The morning of our departure, I bid my family and house farewell and left for school. In the carline, students in my wave exited their cars, hobbling from their overpacked duffel bags full of snacks and clothes. I then hugged my antsy parents goodbye and made my way to the buses, where, in the bus loop, everyone chatted about the forecasted cold weather and the unknown experience ahead. Once on the buses, the farther from civilization we travelled, the more nervous everyone grew. Alligators were pointed out in the marshes through the cold, foggy windows, causing turmoil on the bus. Once we were five minutes from our destination, we were told to shut down our phones. We were officially off of the grid and away from the everyday comforts of home.

When we arrived, we dropped our belongings, and everyone gathered in a circle. The buses left us, and there was no turning back. Students stood nervously, shifting and fidgeting, while waiting for our groups to be announced. Finally, after waiting for what felt like an eternity, the instructors flipped the cardboards with the names of our group members. Many were excited to learn that they were in groups with their best friends. Although I did not have any close friends in my group, I was relieved to see familiar faces from school whom I would get to know through the Outward Bound experience.  

Day one was the most difficult and uncomfortable to endure. Once we arrived at our group’s starting location, our instructors laid out the ground rules and informed us about the roles of each specific bucket. When I heard there was a bucket shared amongst the group for bathroom usage with only one toilet paper roll shared by everyone for the entirety of the trip, and another for cleaning our eating utensils and bowls by simply rinsing them in the murky water with rocks for scrubbing, I was not jumping for joy. We transferred our personal items into dry bags, consolidated clothes and items, and left behind what was deemed unnecessary, which forced me to leave behind many articles of clothing that I strategically planned for each day. We then reviewed the parts of the silver and weather-worn canoes that would transport us to our different locations throughout our adventure. Next, we were assigned a partner, ate a quick pre-prepared trail-mix snack, and loaded our canoes carefully. We began rowing in the marshy Everglades that we imagined to be full of scaly alligators, along with trees and foliage with empty nests, and ibises perched on branches awaiting meals.  

Although we rowed the least amount the first day of the three, the strenuous paddling proved to be more challenging than expected, and day one posed the most obstacles for everyone. The numerous unsuccessful attempts to manipulate the direction of the canoes utilizing the draw and pry strokes learned in PE, the failed communications shouted between partners echoing through the open waters, which sent flocks of birds to fly into the horizon, added to the stress. Everyone’s patience was tested when paddling through the daunting maze of mangroves full of spiders that dangled from the tunneling canopy of trees and maneuvering through the fallen branches that scraped the bottom of the canoes. Groups became stuck between the rough mangrove trunks, enclosing their canoes within the narrow passage and causing frustration amongst everyone. Throughout the paddle, though, the counselors were quick to regularly check on me, ensuring that I was on top of my necessary food and insulin intake and that I did not overexert myself. 

Once sunset approached, we anchored our canoes and boarded them up on a clear lake, which was a tedious process that we exhaustingly accomplished. Arms burning, we then prepared our gear and changed clothes. The four girls in my group, including myself, held up a large blanket for each other when changing our clothes for privacy. Even though we were all hesitant, it was inevitable that we would all need to use the restroom, and we did so carefully off the side of the canoe. By this time, it was pitch dark. We could only see dark blobs of tree shapes and the glistening stars that reflected off of the water in the distance. That evening, the instructors cooked pasta for dinner while our group members talked and learned about each other, as our shining headlamps attracted bugs and mosquitoes. The hiss from the gas tank used for the stove filled the occasional silence. We then ate, created plans for the following day, and learned about the correct way to utilize a compass and a chart. After a long first day, we set up our sleeping bags and prepared for the chilly night ahead. The breeze from the bracing air woke me throughout the night, and at times I would stare in silence at the bright stars and moon beaming in the sky. I felt a sense of peace being out in nature. 

Day two and three became easier. Each day felt like a routine. We woke up and ate breakfast, which included a bowl of grits with melted cheese and butter, breakfast bars and hardy breakfast burritos with boiled eggs and vegetables. We then charted our path for the day, loaded boats and set out on the water. Although the second day was more intimidating with the twists and turns of the mile-long mangroves that entangled our canoes into the branches, I grew more comfortable in my new environment. As I became more familiar with the Everglades, facing the journey ahead did not seem as scary, especially as the bond grew within the entire group. Through the numerous lessons and tips from the instructors, each pair of paddlers used the compass and map to successfully navigate towards each point on our charts until reaching our destinations for the day. Our paddling routes normally encompassed an entire day, with choppy waves that splashed and attacked the canoes and winds that made rowing more vigorous. However, our communication skills involving directing the boats significantly improved as we traversed the unpredictable waters and paths. We crossed channels at low-tide, exposing the sea floor full of shiny clams and dark green seaweed.  

The food exceeded my expectations. Each day, two members were assigned the role of cooks. Meals included such things as making a buttery chicken curry with canned chicken, white rice, curry powder and other spices, prepping for hotdogs that were cooked over the bonfire for dinner, or even cutting vegetables and sausages for charcuterie board lunches on the water.  

All the remaining evenings were spent on land with trails that led to privacy areas for bathroom usage, where we were met with critters such as wild hogs and raccoons, with eyes that glowed yellow when our headlamps illuminated them in the distance. Each night, the girls in my group watched out for each other. 

My favorite evening of the trip was day three, where I enjoyed the rosy sunset from the beach during my alone time, where I saw gleaming silver fish jumping and flapping in the water and dolphins exposing their shiny gradient fins to the environment. From camping at the cozy island of Fakahatchee Bay, to sleeping on the sandy, shell-filled beach at Tiger Key, my group embraced the Outward Bound journey while building strong connections.   

On the final day, we woke up before the sun rose to get an early start on our adventure back to base camp. Although paddling was lengthy, it passed by quickly as everyone shared and laughed about the experiences from the past few days. While some group members were anxiously awaiting departure on the buses for home as the base camp was just within reach, others, including myself, were still enjoying the remaining time on our journey. When we arrived at base camp, I felt slightly sad that the experience was over; however, reuniting with my friends, who were in other groups at base camp, was a highlight as we were all eager to share our adventures from the days prior. The bus ride home was full of exciting conversations, well-deserved naps and chimes of the texts from reunited phones. In the end, everyone felt accomplished. Outward Bound pushed me to go outside of my comfort zone and taught me the significance of communication. I also formed new connections and friendships and made memories that will last a lifetime. I survived Outward Bound even with a chronic illness such as diabetes. Even though this experience pushed my boundaries, I am grateful for the trip and, once I arrived home, I truly appreciated a warm shower, a hot and fresh meal, and the sleep from the comfort of my bed.