There we were. 102 of us. Most of us strangers, some of us friends. People from Cape Reinga all the way down to Invercargill. Some people knew what to expect, but others like me had no idea what they were in for...

There were 13 in my group. I barely knew their names by the time we went on our first tramping expedition, three days of almost non stop hiking through rain, gale force winds, and extreme heat. I still remember the relief and comfort of coming back to a real bed in a real cabin, only to realise that the relaxation wouldn’t last, as our instructors were quick to tell us of the next expedition. 

Soon enough myself and my other watch members found out that the only rest we would get over the next three weeks was sleeping, but even then it was shortened by a 5:45am wake up every morning to go for a two mile (3.2 kilometre) run. 

We would continue to push our bodies to the limit in ways we never thought imaginable over the course. Whether it was spending two nights and three days solo in the bush, no contact with any other humans, going on a two day kayak trip, holding someone’s life in your hands with rope whilst rock climbing, sailing along in a cutter, or spending a whole day rowing in a Waka, all of us spent a long period of time outside our comfort zones. 

If you told me two months ago that I would run a half marathon before the start of May then I would’ve called you crazy. Outward Bound taught me that there is more in myself. That I can push myself and actually accomplish more than I think. I know you’re thinking “I could’ve just told you that” but to me, actually experiencing it would do a lot more than just hearing it. 

The ways it has changed my life is crazy to think about. I’m more motivated to do things, I have a greater sense of caring for the environment and people around me, and most importantly, it's allowed me to push myself harder than I could’ve ever imagined.