Intern, Intern, Intern (and Study) ... ABROAD!

Source: The University of Sydney (http://sydney.edu.au/)

Journal Entry 8/26

Becoming a Better Me: The Internship Experience

My journey began at the University of Sydney Business School on August 6^th 2014. I was interviewed for the position of marketing and communications intern by my two supervisors and was hired later on that day.

At first, I was quite skeptical about the internship since I had previously worked at the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive MBA Program (Global Access Program) as a student assistant, and wanted to expand my scope and work in a different field. As long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about writing and journalism. Back home, I write for my newspaper every week and have been itching to interview and report ever since I arrived in Sydney, Australia. I wanted to intern at a company that pushed me to become a better writer and journalist. Little did I know, this internship would do just that.

I was surprised to learn what all this internship entailed. So far, I have been working on composing social media posts for articles and events (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), posting and editing blogs for our Marketing Matters and Opportunity Blog, analyzing and tracking our social media likes, shares, followers and comparing them to other business schools and utilizing excel and PowerPoint for additional projects. Although I had used excel in my previous job, I had never explored its fancy features and format details.

So far, I have found editing to be my most challenging task. At UCLA, I worked as the Community Editor at the Daily Bruin for a couple months. After being an editor and adapting to a specific journalistic style of writing, I thought I knew everything to look out for. Editing the blogs has shown me how much I have to learn not only about editing but about my own writing and grammar. I find myself constantly googling words for possible spelling errors (ex. Australians spell some words with an ‘s’ instead of a ‘z’ (realise)) and grammar mistakes such as semicolons and apostrophes. After reflecting on my internship and my own writing, I feel as if this is my weakness, something I will have to constantly strive to better myself at. With hard work, a little research each day and a positive attitude, I believe I will be able to improve my editing skills for my internship, future employers and the journalism world.

Journal Entry 9/9

A Holistic Approach to Education and Self

These last couple weeks I have worked on the goal I had set for myself in my previous journal, which is, researching universal grammar rules and rules only specific to Australia writing. Although it has not been the most exciting task, I have found that researching one rule (ex. use of commas) each day before work has immensely helped me with editing blogs throughout the day. Although I do not have the best memory and revert to “googling” words and sentences to double check my judgment, I feel as if I am more confident in editing and presenting my findings to my supervisor.

Lately, I have been doing more than editing and posting the MBA, Opportunity and Marketing blogs. My supervisor has extended my editing sphere to include proof reading our business school’s e-newsletter, a monthly letter with various articles featuring clubs/societies, professors, financial donors, etc. In addition to editing the letter, I look over the design of the page and check all of the links online to ensure everything looks professional and runs smoothly. I have caught a few errors and have presented them to my supervisor (something I feel extremely proud about).

Besides editing, I have been learning an immense amount of knowledge in the area of marketing. For our monthly e-newsletter, we use the online platform “campaign monitor.” This site traces our online distribution, audience, subscribed, unsubscribed, soft bounce and hard bounce emails. At first I was quite scared to tackle on this project of tracking down and recording these figures since numbers and math is not my strong suit. After a short information session with my supervisor, I no longer felt scared to try, rather, I felt excited to undertake such an interesting assignment that lies far beyond my realm of expertise.

Although I wouldn’t choose marketing as a career, I found the exercise in using a tool that marketers use to be very exciting and eye opening. I had never realized how much companies really do take note of our every move online and how this information can assist in catering to customers and employers.

Ultimately, my reflection from these last couple weeks can be defined as “you learn something new every day.” May it be researching, learning new editing skills, or testing the waters of a different career, every experience I have encountered so far has contributed to not only a holistic approach to my education, but also, of myself and what I can achieve.

Journal Entry 9/23

Career: A Way of Life

My normal tasks I complete during my day to day shift have gone smoother and faster than they have ever been. Lately, I have been working on our September social media power point report in addition to my other responsibilities. I have found myself sifting through the statistics with ease and confidence as I prepare the report. I have learned that with time comes confidence and experience in the workplace.

Because of my familiarity with my tasks and the increased speed in which I have accomplished them, my supervisor asked me if I would be interested in writing a blog for the Big Opportunity page after editing and posting the MBA students contributions like I normally do. I more than jumped at the opportunity and felt privileged to be able to complete such a task that I felt was extremely valuable in helping me grow as a writer. After I wrote my blog for the business school, I reflected on what had gotten me to this very point. As a marketing and communications intern, personal blogging is not usually tied with the job. I realized that because of my hard work in the office, my supervisor probably wanted to provide a creative outlet for me as a thank you for my efforts. With hard work comes a reward so bright and wonderful which makes the work not seem like work at all, rather, a learning process to the ultimate prize of self-growth.

This week I celebrated my 21^st birthday, which did not go unnoticed by my coworkers. I was pleasantly surprised with a pre-birthday morning tea since my birthday was the following day. I was absolutely blown away by their kindness and good vibrations for me. They showed me how much they cared by taking the time from their own busy schedule just to wish me a happy birthday and ask me about my plans. In that moment, I understood why the business school functioned so well. Because of my co-workers’ natural concern for people and their caring demeanor, their professions were more than just a place of work to them but a way of life.

From this simple but impactful experience, I learned that no matter what profession you go into, you must believe in what you do and give your best in everything. Success can be equated with having a positive attitude and genuine care. May it be a birthday or an assignment, a person’s true character will always shine through and will not go unnoticed by a supervisor or by a thankful intern.

Journal Entry 10/15

It’s a Wrap

As of October 20^th 2014 I will have officially completed my 120 hours working at the University of Sydney Business School as a Marketing and Communications intern. These last few weeks have seemed to fly by as my supervisor has kept me busy with my normal projects with an added bonus of assisting with photography shoots of the Business School faculty. I have learned the importance of lightening, background, and people in taking photographs. While analyzing the photographer, I focus on the way in which he creates a “safe” environment of positivity and humor. Although some of the faculty members came in nervous and pessimistic in being the subject of the photograph, the photographer and myself joked around and made the experience fun and enjoyable. In effect, the faculty members left with smiles not only for the camera, but also for themselves.

From this seemingly insignificant experience, I learned more about the business industry than I ever thought I could. In any career we choose, we must learn how to connect with our co-workers in order to sustain a comfortable environment of mutual trust (ex. the faculty members trust that the photographer will take a flattering photo of them). While an exchange or a business deal can be just that, we must go the extra mile to encourage and motivate others to aspire to their full potential (ex. the photographer encourages the one being photographed to smile so as to capture the most beautiful and authentic picture of happiness). If so, the other person we do business with will remember us as a hardworking and driven individual and will network with us in the future. In other words, you reap the benefits of your work in full and only get out as much work as you decide to put in. So why not dive in feet first, splashing in a couple mistakes along the way and learning from them, until completely submerged within the best reality we could have never dreamed of. Living passion.

My time here was short, but the benefits I have received are everlasting. I came into this program with a skeptical view of how much I could really learn from a seemingly familiar job I had worked at before. My initial perspective couldn’t have been more incorrect. What I have gained is more than I could ever write on a resume. Through sociological lenses, it is the way in which we communicate. It is diligently working, genuinely caring about your cause, and always trying to better yourself. While my internship may be over, the path to my own definition of success has just begun.

On the Road: A Pathway to Growth

An account of my mid-semester break in Australia.

Check out the adventure here. A blog contribution to The University of Sydney Business School.

In addition, check out an earlier post of mine, Beyond Borders . I discuss the differences between Australian and American cultures and education. A blog contribution to The University of Sydney Business School.

There’s Nowhere to Go but Up

Day 1: Challenge Accepted

On the cold rainy morning of August 29^th, my two flatmates and I left our small humble apartment in the city to venture out to the beautiful Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. We caught the train to Katoomba that morning, hiking gear in tow, along with other members of the Learning in Outdoor Education class. Two hours later we arrived at the station and ventured to the Blue Mountains via bus.

Before heading on the trail we broke up into small random groups composed of about 12 people. I once again ended up with the punny Wayne Cotton as my knowledgeable instructor and hiking guide. From there, my group and I slowly made our way along the trail, stopping frequently for a lesson in trees, birds, plants and waterfalls. One of the first waterfall’s we encountered looked like a deformed human face protruding from a cold hard slab of rock as water rushed down the contours of the stone.

The "face" rock

The farther we went into the mountains the more and more beautiful the trail became. Dark green plants and trees surrounded the trail on both sides, pushing wanderers along a path filled with fresh air and remnants of life. The day was peaceful and the weather was cool and lazy. And then the challenge fell upon us. Wayne stopped our hiking group at a cave with a small opening on the side of the pathway, a hole so small that it was almost invisible to the regular outside explorer mossing along. At this point, I was awaiting a long speech about life and a metaphor about the cave and our own lives. Instead, I was surprised with Wayne’s short but sweet statement. He said something along the lines of “It is your choice to crawl through the cave opening. What does it mean if you do it? It can mean nothing or it can mean anything. It is simply a challenge.” Being a dare devil at heart and one to never step down from a test, I thought, “Challenge Accepted.”

A couple students before me slowly crawled through the cave opening and popped out the end. I squeezed my way into the whole and felt the cool dirt brush against my rain jacket and pants. I used my elbows to crawl forward and my feet to push me ahead deeper into the narrow whole. As I got towards the end, the cave opening got narrower and narrower, my breathing increased in rapid succession and my heart pumped faster and faster. I felt as if I couldn't move another inch without squishing my whole body against the roof of the cave. With baby crawls and slow movements I finally made my way out of the opening of the cave into the sunlight (which had never felt so good). I was dirty but feeling fresh and alive.

Other students followed through the cave opening not long after, with others struggling as well. Some students stopped mid-way in and proclaimed they couldn't go further and thought about climbing back out the entrance. The team at the other end, including myself, shot out encouragement and positive words to help egg on the others to keep moving forward and not look back. That day, every single member of my group took on the challenge and made it through in one piece.

A member of our hiking group coming out of the cave's narrow opening happy and alive

So, what did horizontal climbing through an old narrow cave opening filled with dirt and spiders mean? To some it meant they simply did it, to others it meant they overcame their fear of claustrophobia, to me, it meant so much more. 

In my own life I have faced challenges, struggled to get through them and have succeeded against all odds. Some people view me as an overachiever while others view me as being “naturally smart.” The truth is, I am neither. Just like the cave crawl, I accept challenges to learn and to grow. I know what I can accomplish and will not settle for less than what I believe I can achieve. Just like the narrow portion of the cave, there will always be struggles. People telling me I can’t reach my goal and that it’s impossible. Funny enough, I am usually my worst critic. When things get tough or a challenge becomes harder, I emotionally beat myself up. I tell myself a girl from a small country town couldn't possibly compete and make it out on top. She has no advantage, she didn't attend a high achieving school, she doesn't come from a family of fortune, and she is and always has been self-supporting. 

But then I see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Just like the cave crawl, I stop, look around, and slowly move forward. I shrug off my own criticism and replace them with positive thoughts. Thoughts of how far I have come in my life and the long list of goals I have yet to accomplish, goals that I WILL accomplish. As I crawl, I realize I have every advantage in the world. Because what I have is something that can never be broken, I have heart and an abnormal determination. A passion so bright that it couldn't burn out even if someone tried to force it to. And just like that, I leave my dark cave of self-criticism and accomplish the greatest challenge of all. That is, overcoming the only person that could ever stop me, myself.

After the cave adventure, we made our way along the trail onto the ledge of a cliff. Long and behold, the Three Sisters sat in eyesight, radiating its beauty to every beholder.

The Three Sisters

Later in the day, during the last portion of the hike, we stopped for a breather before climbing up along the stairs to Echo Point.

A photo collage of a couple students and myself journeying up the Giant Stairway to Echo Point.

The trek up the stairs was long and hard. Despite the massive staircase, my hiking mates and I laughed and joked around. We even sang along with Niko to “Baby Got Back.” Although my calves were tight and my breaths were short, I was totally immersed in the beautiful scenery of the Blue Mountains during the climb. With every step up, the view became richer and fuller while my pain seemed to roll away into oblivion.

One step led to another and then to another until finally:

A panorama view of the Blue Mountains

Perfection.

Our hiking group selfie at Echo Point

Day 2: Beauty is Subjective

6:45 A.M.

Could my alarm be any louder?

The day started out rainy and dreary as my four cabin mates and I left to join the others at the bus. We arrived at a random lookout point in the Blue Mountains where the fog seemed to cover the trees like a thick spread of peanut butter.

Ellie, Cristal and I dressed up in our rain jackets and ready for the fog that filled the valley

We received the privilege to choose our own hiking instructor. I took one look at Ian and darted over to his side. Ever since I joined the class I wanted to experience Ian’s method of teaching outside of lecture and in nature, so you could say I was beyond excited to start out the day with my mates (Cristal, Ellie, Sarah) by my side. We started out by venturing down the cliff into the valley, stopping frequently to learn about the different kinds of wildlife and trees.

My hiking group and I striking our silly pose with the "paint" of a turpentine tree marked on our faces

As we slowly made our way down, I felt as if I was deep into the Amazon forest with nothing but a God like presence behind and before me.

The thick green trees and plants were rich with life

A picture of me crossing a stream

During the hike down, Ian stopped us in front of a cave opening that plunged down vertically into darkness. Ian and Juan (aka “Juicy Juan”) hoped down into the opening to help students make their way down. While some students were scared of the challenge, I once again felt excited and daring. My mentality: “Challenge Accepted.” After making our way through the cave and out into the open, the plan was for the group to wait outside the opening until everyone had made it through. Unfortunately, this was not the case. As I made it out of the cave I noticed everyone scattered around in different directions. As such, I made my way down a path to enjoy a small waterfall with a couple others as we waited for the other students to make it through the cave. After listening to nature’s music, I followed the track up and told Ellie and Cristal about the lovely falls.

After a little while, everyone made it through safe and sound. The group commenced in line formation on the trail and a routine head count was called by the leader. We made our way downhill for about an hour until making our way into the valley where the river bed was housed. We stopped for lunch along the river with two other hiking groups to replenish our energy and rest.

During lunch, Juicy Juan and I discussed some good places in Sydney to go dancing at and he told me he liked to salsa. Being that I love to dance but have never salsaed before, I asked Juicy to teach me how to salsa in front of my peers, instructors and mother nature herself.

The other hiking groups soon left and continued their journey as we settled in and ate our lunch. Suddenly, Sarah asked where Ellie and Cristal were. We looked around nervously at each other and realized we had broken one of the cardinal rules: Never leave a mate behind. Ian and Juan scurried back up the cliff as the rest of us waited by the river. At that moment, I had realized what happened. I told Ellie and Cristal about the waterfall but failed to check if they had rejoined the group. I couldn’t have felt guiltier. Here I was salsa dancing and having the time of my life as Cristal and Ellie were lost and afraid. I had a quick look through my pictures and found a selfie of Ellie that she must have taken on my phone. I looked at it and thought… this may be the last time I ever see her beautiful face.

My friend took this beautiful selfie on my phone. The last image I would have had of her.

Fortunately, 20 minutes later, Ian and Juan had returned to the group with my two friends by their side. Oh did they have a story to tell. But I’ll let them tell it through their blogs.

From that experience I learned more than I was expecting. I learned how crucial communication is, especially during unfamiliar trips in the outdoors when being lost can be dangerous and life threatening. Teamwork is more than the art of working together; it is the linkage of emotions and consciousness thoughts about others. Lastly, I realized how much these two ladies have come to mean to me and the positive impact their friendship has had on my life.

The journey continued and it couldn't have been more beautiful. While the scenery along the river bed was breathtaking, the connection I formed with Cristal was just as amazing. During the trail Cristal and I spoke about subjects we hadn't explored together but had thought separately about. We talked about growing old and the importance of gaining wisdom and strength through the natural world. Our topics spanned from our goals in life, to how nature impacts our feelings, to death and to the meaning of life.

One with nature

After making our way through the valley, we entered the last stage of our hike: The difficult and physically draining uphill track. We started along hiking full speed ahead and gradually slowed down.

At this point, I felt exhausted. My calves burned with every stride and the steps kept multiplying without giving any lee way. The trees and moss no longer seemed to have their magnificent glow as I stopped enjoying nature’s splendid glory. I started questioning my choice of joining the class as negative thoughts crept into my mind about my own physique compared to others in the class that were more physically fit.

Suddenly, I stopped.

I took a minute to re-orientate my thoughts. Took a deep breath, and gazed at the spectacular world that surrounded me.

Like with any challenge, comes a choice. A choice to continue onward and grow or a choice to stay stagnate.

I chose growth.

“There’s nowhere to go but up” I thought.“There’s nowhere to go but up.”

The tall and glorious waterfall to the left and me hiking along the cliff towards the right with the waterfall in the background

Day 3: I Am

The last day of the hike proved to be one of the most remarkable in terms of scenery and self-discovery. Before going on the hike, Ian led the group in some stretches to soften up those stiff muscles from the day before.

I chose Ian’s group once more before starting the hike. As we made our way down the path, Ian tested our knowledge from the weekend by having us recall certain trees and animals we had learned about from the previous two days. I instantly thought of the lyrebird, an Australian native bird that mimics other birds and sounds.

The morning was peaceful and slow, a perfect way to start of a day basked in nature’s serenity.

We enjoyed each other’s company and the bountiful amounts of waterfalls that accompanied the path.

A couple different waterfalls along the path

Later on in the day, we stopped for lunch at a large towering waterfall. The same waterfall we would be climbing up and over. 

During the hike up to the cliff base, I felt every part of my body as my legs stung and my heart raced. I felt satisfied knowing that I was exerting myself and pushing my body beyond its normal stopping point.

At the cliff base, there were some gnarley stairs in cages that made me feel secure as we made the vertical hike up along the mountain’s edge.

My friend Jessica and I in the "cage" along the mountain's cliff 

This uphill fight against gravity turned into one of the most powerful experiences I have encountered in nature thus far. I felt limitless yet heavy as my body stood suspended on the mountain’s edge as my thoughts floated effortlessly across the clear blue sky. As I grasped the rock and man-made structure all I could think about was the perfect combination of human connection and natural world bestowed upon our human race. As is so, contemporary society is slowly destroying both.

I felt so free, free to laugh, free to smile and free to just live. How could it be that I felt so close with nature yet so fearful of her ability to take my life away in an instant? That’s when I realized what is truly beautiful and worth fighting for. It’s moments like this, where living is not living unless you are feeling. Feeling every breath you take, the cool breeze on your skin and the sweat on your forehead. It’s being one with the natural world and appreciating its wonders and splendor that we can only remotely understand.

From then on I realized why the Blue Mountains would forever change me and my perspective on the world. I finally understood why life has a meaning and why writing will always be my purpose. An answer I could only find through self-reflection and the exertion of body and soul in the divinity of the natural world.

I am.

A picture of me soaking in earth's beauty. Feeling peaceful simply in "being."

Author’s Note:

As part of the class, it was required to write about my experiences using a blog as a tool to communicate my self-reflection. I enjoyed using this medium and have taken it a step further by creating other blogs of my own. Combining my photos, video and writing gave me the opportunity to think deeply and understand myself through Learning in Outdoor Education. For this kind of learning I believe an essay or a “turn in” assignment wouldn't have done the program justice and would have stifled the learning experience. Through blogging, I have felt that I can be intimate with my thoughts and freely profess them as I would in a journal. It has given me the space to not only share my feelings, but to reflect on them and the impact of nature on my livelihood. I would like to recommend this tool for anyone who enjoys nature and would like to deeply explore the impact it has on their character and thoughts.

While I do believe in the positive power of the blog (since writing in any form is seductive), there are some cons. The experiences one feels in nature and the pictures and videos posted can only go so far. Anyone can view them but not everyone can understand the meaning. Sometimes the experiences you receive are just that, experiences; an experience that can only be felt while doing and in the moment. I fear that some will use this tool to live out their own so called “experience” through the eyes of blog writers and will be deterred from going out and seeing these sights first hand. I can only hope that people will not only read my blog, but will be inspired to shut down the lap top, live and explore.

With Nature We Are Infinite

Royal National Park

We are body. We are soul. We are mind.

But are we infinite?

I believe in an unbounded natural experience that can only be understood by doing. This experimental learning theory, known as creating meaning through direct experience (theory of experience), was pioneered by psychologist and education reformer John Dewey (Neill, 2005).

In order to gain infinity in the natural world, I believe to experience the beauty of life first hand, or to engulf oneself in mother earth's divinity, is to feel as endless as the vast pulse of sea and land before us.

This last weekend, I received the chance to breathe deeply and feel existence.

During my semester abroad at the University of Sydney, Australia; I chose to enroll in the course "Learning in Outdoor Education" taught by Ian Boyle. For our first natural learning experience, we journeyed to the beautiful Royal National Park for a day hike (Aug 16), located about 40 minutes away from uni.




Google Maps: Distance from the University of Sydney to Royal National Park

We started off our adventure by breaking into separate groups of about 15 students per one instructor. I was fortunate enough to receive the witty and knowledgeable Wayne Cotton as my outdoor education guide. We got to know each other through "the name game" and ice breakers. Although I had recognized some members of my group from lectures and tutorials, I had never had a long form conversation with them until this trip. Come to find out, these students were from all over the world and had a lot to share about their cultures and countries.




A photo collage of my hiking group

After getting to know surface details about one another we received a 10-15 minute period of solo time along one of the cliffs. This alone time was by far my favorite part of the adventure. The weather was chilly and overcast with slight winds and showers. At first I wasn't quite feeling up to the hike. I hadn't gotten much sleep that night on account of a long night out dancing with the mates and waking up to the cold weather didn't add to my enthusiasm. The bus ride made me nauseous and quite frankly I just wanted to crawl back in bed and catch a couple extra zzzs. My mentality changed as soon as I sat down on that cliff, opened my eyes, and inhaled deeply.

I sat by the far end of the cliff about 20 feet from the drop where the rock fell down to the cold crashing waves of the pacific ocean. The air felt refreshing and cool on my skin as I listened to nature's rumbling yet peaceful sounds.

As I sat there transfixed by nature's glory, I thought about those common topics that seem to rest within us all: What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose? How can I become a better version of myself? These questions are never easy to answer, and as such, do not have a simple black and white answer. As I pondered over my thoughts, I let my eyes wander across the endless ocean to the point where the sky and water joined forces as if to profess its yearning for affection from other natural forces as well as the human race. This thought led me to think about my life course and how insignificant some of my so called "problems" really are. I thought about taking a break from my daily routine back home and getting in touch with the very earth which sustains my existence and feeds my craving for natural adventure. Why not get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, constantly crowded with others innovative ideas, to listen to my own heartbeat and soul?  

While I idolize the city and my journalism dreams it represents, New York will always be there. On the other hand, nature's beauty and the outdoor experiences will not always be sustained. Below is a self-reflection video I made a couple days after returning from the trip: 

Initially, before the Royal National Park hiking experience, there's nothing more that I could have wanted from life than to become a successful young journo with a passion for telling the lives of the voiceless, the ones with stories worth telling and lives worth fighting for. While I still feel that same passion and drive burning within my heart, I now feel a fresh sense of purpose. A purpose that thrives off of my career objectives and humanitarian goals, almost to say, "Hey Jenn, you need some balance in your life."

My goal in journalism has always been to renew compassion within our human race; that very same compassion that has grown cold. To provide a throbbing pulse of kindness and generosity within each and every individual to connect them in a way which makes them feel more human than skin deep. I now know that before I can do this for others, I must become the best me I can become, that is, a well cultured and traveled young woman with a strong connection with the outdoors. To become a better writer, I must first become a better human. And to do that, I must experience the world with a sense of adrenaline and tranquility that can only be provided through natural challenges bestowed upon me by mother earth herself. 

After mulling over my thoughts, I was left with a sense of ease and calm. I had faced my understanding of purpose, came up with short and long term goals, and was left with Australia's magic: its natural scenery. 



A sharp contrast of water to sky



A few shots of the aqua water and colorful stone along the hike

My drastic perspective alteration of my own life can be attributed to David Kolb's model of experimental learning. Kolb, an educational theorist, created his four step model in conjunction with other theorists such as Dewey to highlight the developmental process of the exercise and to accentuate the importance of direct experience (Dewey) in learning. Kolb's four step process is as follows:

The Experimental Learning Cycle 
1) Concrete experience
2) Observation and experience
3) Forming abstract concepts
4) Testing in new situations.
(Smith, 2010)

My direct experience of being surrounded by creation in solitary fulfills the first criteria while my observation of myself in relation to the natural world satisfies number two. From this experience and observation I was able to form an in depth abstract outlook on my life's course from beginning to end. Since the hike, I have tested my new found perspective on living by setting a goal to actively explore the earth's natural brilliance every weekend, a goal I have been accomplishing thus far.

It is noteworthy to point out that this learning experience can start at any one of these four steps, since learning is a continuous cycle (Smith, 2010). Why then, should we break down our experiences into a step by step process? James Neill, the author of Experimental Learning Cycles (overview of 9 experimental learning cycle models) states that "by breaking fuzzy processes (such as learning) down into distinct stages (such as a 4-stage model), the idea is that we can better understand, test out, and make use of the main components" (Neill, 2010).  Therefore, if we can grasp our own series of thinking, we can then use it as a guide in other situations that befall our way.

After becoming familiar with my own mentality that day and how my thoughts jump from one complicated topic to another, I felt adequate enough to stand up with confidence and trudge forward with a clearer view of who I was and who I wanted to become.

What started out as a gruesome morning turned into an uplifting and exhilarating experience. All from spending 10 minutes alone with nature. From then on, the chilly weather nor my responsibilities back home did not once enter my mind. Instead, I focused on the trail before me and the learning experiences left along the way.

During a portion of the hike I brought up the tail end of the group. Here is a picture of a couple students walking ahead of me as I immersed myself in the scenery.

References:

Neill, J. (2010, November 14). Experiential Learning Cycles.wilderdom.com. Retrieved August 26, 2014, from wilderdom.com/experiential/elc/ExperientialLearningCycle.htm

Neill, J. (2005, January 26). John Dewey, the Modern Father of Experiential Education. wilderdom.com. Retrieved August 26, 2014, from http://www.wilderdom.com/experiential/ExperientialDewey.html

Smith, M. K. (2001, 2010). ‘David A. Kolb on experiential learning’, the encyclopedia of informal education.  Retrieved August 26, 2014 from http://infed.org/mobi/david-a-kolb-on-experiential-learning/