Post-trip: Ingrid Wahlstrom

I am sad to be sitting here writing my final blog post. Within one week I'd made some pretty cool memories that will last a lifetime. This program has opened my eyes to many things. Before this trip, I'd never flown alone, navigated an airport alone, and lived with people I had never met. On top of it all, that week had been the longest I've ever been away from home on my own. Growing up, I never did sleepaway camps because I had bad anxiety. So just signing up for this program was already a big step out of my comfort zone. All these experiences have taught me that I'm capable. I am capable of building these bonds and relationships with these incredible people I have only known for one week. I am capable of opening up and sharing things that not even my friends at home know about me. I was taught how to be a team leader, not just individually, but in a group. I learned many aspects of Hawaiian culture, from the Hukilau, a traditional Hawaiian dance, to doing the Kilos at Kiholo Bay.

But if there's something that struck me, it is not to take my family for granted. Doing the trust circle and hearing people share their stories on such personal levels made me realize how grateful I am for my family. It was not just the trust circle that opened my eyes to this appreciation but also all the people we had met throughout the week. I especially felt the family connection in the dry land forest. Listening to LehuaAlapai talk about how important the land is to her and her ancestors and watching her get emotional was genuinely inspiring. This also ties along with the commitment aspect of the seven C's. She is so committed to restoring and keeping this forest alive, not only for her family but for the ecosystem and the stability of the island. While helping the dry land forest was impactful, the activity that impacted me the most was working in Kiholo Bay. Rebecca Most, Lehua Kamaka, and her family's commitment to restoring and maintaining the turtle sanctuary was so cool to learn about. And the efforts that they have put in to keep the land healthy and thriving are incredible. I loved feeling so welcomed and a part of nature while I was there and feeling like I left the place with a small impact.

What I am planning on taking home with me is the sense of family and community that I felt while I was here. We did an activity on the last day called the commitment tree, where we wrote something we would commit to when we returned from the trip. The commitment I made was to spend more time with my siblings. What's holding me back is not just no free time and other responsibilities but a bit of selfishness and ignorance. If I weren't always so wrapped up in my own world, I wouldn't need to write that in my commitment tree. The change I am going to make is that I am going to designate more time for my siblings, whether that's taking my sister shopping or bouncing on the trampoline with my brother. I will make more of an effort to be present in their lives before I go to college. Being here in Hawaii with the new family that we built gave me a new perspective. Although sad to have left, I am excited to take back these experiences and share them with friends and family.

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