Post-trip: Alyssa Vo

Although I only spent one week in Hawaii, it feels as if I had been there for months. Not only did I get close to everyone on the trip, but I learned about Hawaiian culture and myself. I did not realize there was more to learn about myself, but during this trip, I discovered what type of a leader I am and how I need to be more honest with myself. I had always pictured myself as a very logical, independent person, yet my leadership color was yellow, which correlates more to being outgoing and a ‘people person.’ Another quality of a yellow leader is that they tend to be emotional, and I have never considered myself emotional. My mom was shocked to hear about the type of leader I was as she also saw me as independent, organized, and calm. I think I tend to hide my emotions from my family and my friends, but in reality, I am the opposite. Learning this about myself will make me a better leader and help my mental health. Knowing I’m emotional will let me be more expressive and honest with others and myself. I now realize that I do not have to be perfect for anyone; instead, I should be happy with who I am. 

Another eye-opening aspect of this trip was the pure passion expressed by all the locals we met. Seeing how invested they were in their community and culture inspired me to do more for my community. Leihua’s dedication to cleaning up the dryland forest was particularly meaningful. Watching her sit silently and take in the nature around her caused me to realize I do not appreciate my community enough. The time she gave us to sit in the rock amphitheater and absorb the nature around us allowed me to reflect on what I should do for the land around my home. Whether that is more beach clean-ups or volunteering, I would like to play a more significant role in helping the world around me.

On top of that, I would like to be more committed to being sustainable. I want to ensure all the products I buy are eco-friendly, not just most. I want to buy fewer unnecessary items and focus on making my carbon footprint smaller. 

I am so grateful for this opportunity; I could not have imagined a better group of people to experience it with. I will take all the knowledge I have gained to my community, which will help me decide what path I want to take in life. It has only been a couple of days since I left Hawaii, but I have gone through all my photos and videos several times to know that the memories I made will last. I hope to see the amazing people I met again, and I will always think of them fondly. 


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