Post-trip: Amanda Carlile

Throughout this once-in-a-lifetime trip, I was part of so many things that I never thought I would get the chance to experience. I learned so many things about the earth and Hawaiian culture, discovered more about myself, and made lifelong friends. There was a great mix of people within the group of 20, which made it easier to become more like a family by the end of the week. Having close bonds with different people made the week more enjoyable and memorable.

One of the biggest takeaways from this trip is that I also discovered so many different things about myself. I learned more about my consciousness of self or true identity. I learned that I like to be organized, dependable, value family, and am responsible. I also took away that for people to see the true me, I need to open up more and show sides of myself that people don’t usually see. I also improved on collaboration by working in groups all the time. An activity that impacted me a lot was the leadership colors activity because it helped with my consciousness of self and finding out who I truly am. It opened my eyes to see how others view me and what I value in life. 

By going to different sights like the Dryland Forest and Kiholo Bay, I also discovered more about their culture and how connected they are to their families, and I aspire to one day make that same deep connection. I took away that I respect and love my family so much, and I hope to get even closer to them. My action plan is to make a deeper connection with my family and learn more about my culture. I want to be able to value my family as much as both the Lehuas did. I will start by spending more time with them and not taking any moments for granted. I will cherish every moment I get to spend with my family while I still can. 


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