Impacts

Leaving the land of the trees early has created an imbalance in my life. I was not fully prepared mentally or physically to join civilization again. The constant battle to remember to apply deodorant, take showers daily (not lake showers), wear clean clothes everyday, and the chaotic chatter of social media and internet playing tricks on my mind; puts me in a black hole of confusion. I catch myself just staring at people sometimes. I have a running list in my head of what I need to do everyday. Routine what are you and why are you so hard to obtain again?

When I left I was anxious, nervous and bloody tired. What I did not realize was the impact I had on several people throughout the whole summer. After reading through the goodbye card I was emotional with tears. It was not just young girl's lives I had altered but the young, strong and powerful life changers I worked alongside with. Wow. I was an inspiration and motivator? The thank you's and powerful literature on my card came as a complete surprise. When moving my last bag into the car and walking out of the office for the last time I ran into Tenaya, a leader who was a role model and strong positive influence on me the whole summer. She came up to me, hugged me and stated that I was one of the most powerful role models in her life. That because of me she had a summer filled with growth. Woah. And that was not the only peer who stated the same words to me.

Me, a role model? I still have so far to go and so much yet to learn. I grow, expand, flex and bend as the circumstances demand. My path winds itself before me. My ultimate goal is not only to create a positive growing environment for me but for those around me as well. I finally realized that my goal is beginning to be met.


There is still so much further for me to go, but the journey seems passable now. As I drive away from the land of trees, laughter, and growth I know that another summer has changed me forever more...