Carla Gutierrez
Lounging on mossy rock with the evergreens whispering through the wind, my body, my spirit and the world became one. The sunlight caressed my body, filling me with comfort and security. My ears synced with the stream along my right side. The water crashed as it hit the jagged rocks inhabiting the creek. I disregarded the sight of dirt and sweat accumulated on my arms from days without showering. The view of Ranger Lake’s refreshing liquid was not taunting, instead an admirable panorama. The only question that crossed my mind was why the majority of the world doesn’t experience this bare, natural state. In this moment, I was reminded of the reason why I adore the outdoors.
Although Outdoor Leadership training has taught me so much about the importance of being a community member and finding beauty in the struggle of accomplishing hikes past my mental and physical confines, OLT has led me to find what I am most passionate about, what my purpose in society is. Being in nature gave me perspective on trivial problems cycling in life and being comfortable with myself. Admittedly, I recognize the difficulty of restraining oneself from societal expectations and social anxieties. At my age, it is hard to prioritize the balance of minor social habits, let alone acknowledge the changes waiting to be made that affect the future. However, when I am in the outdoors, my morals seem clear. My mindfulness and serenity encourage my personal goals to take on more responsibility to solve pressing matters related to myself and the world around me. This leads me to aspire to create an everyday environment where this is possible. As of now, my fixation on creative design is leading me toward developing cities to cultivate environmental friendliness, unraveling the idea of life quality. Projects I have done, clubs I have joined, and research essays I have written have always had to do with how nature affects the mental state and happiness. From these experiences, I have learned that the majority of people who experience the natural world frequently find themselves filled with love and awareness.
Each time I camp, hike, and backpack, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have this outlet for myself. From these moments, I am inspired to share the love that can be found by oneself solely in the presence of natural elements. Regardless of whether my future truly entails my vast plan or decides to take a different path, I know my goals in life will lead me to advocate for people to feel liberated by nature.
Although Outdoor Leadership training has taught me so much about the importance of being a community member and finding beauty in the struggle of accomplishing hikes past my mental and physical confines, OLT has led me to find what I am most passionate about, what my purpose in society is. Being in nature gave me perspective on trivial problems cycling in life and being comfortable with myself. Admittedly, I recognize the difficulty of restraining oneself from societal expectations and social anxieties. At my age, it is hard to prioritize the balance of minor social habits, let alone acknowledge the changes waiting to be made that affect the future. However, when I am in the outdoors, my morals seem clear. My mindfulness and serenity encourage my personal goals to take on more responsibility to solve pressing matters related to myself and the world around me. This leads me to aspire to create an everyday environment where this is possible. As of now, my fixation on creative design is leading me toward developing cities to cultivate environmental friendliness, unraveling the idea of life quality. Projects I have done, clubs I have joined, and research essays I have written have always had to do with how nature affects the mental state and happiness. From these experiences, I have learned that the majority of people who experience the natural world frequently find themselves filled with love and awareness.
Each time I camp, hike, and backpack, I am reminded of how grateful I am to have this outlet for myself. From these moments, I am inspired to share the love that can be found by oneself solely in the presence of natural elements. Regardless of whether my future truly entails my vast plan or decides to take a different path, I know my goals in life will lead me to advocate for people to feel liberated by nature.
Ciro Gutierrez
Imagine yourself at a stop light. The street is empty, there is no one. Image yourself in the empty street and there is a red light, that red light is telling you to stop. There are no cars, no cops, and your're still sitting there, obeying the light. Why? In the world we live in technology is telling you what to do. When I saw this it got to me and I saw technology slowly controlled us little by little. After, I decided not to get a phone I didn't want to become in caged by technology. Studies show people do not talk to people anymore everything is through text message. People are losing how to talk to people like looking into their eyes or when you are talking they pull out their phones and text while the other person is talking. When Are losing how we interact with people. I was with a group of friends and we saw the coolest thing ever they took out their phones and they missed what had happened because they were to busy trying to record the moment. One of my teachers was all about wilderness. We read into the wild one of my favorite books. Chris McCandless just decide to live everything and go to Alaska to live off the land he died when he got there. What I like about this book was the way he left everything his car money technology some have a hard time living their phones or not having wifi. A teacher at my school took us on a camping trip to disconnect us from technology to be one with nature but still talk about school but it was one of my favorite memories I everyone was talking to each other instead of being on their phones all the time.
Izadora McGawley
Adapted from a college application essay:
I have always been a lover of adventure, but I only ever experienced it vicariously through books or movies. Before joining Outdoor Leadership Training, the thought of being out in the wilderness was something I couldn’t even fathom. I always had depression and low confidence, especially when it came to my physical abilities, but my teachers and friends who were a part of the club encouraged me to give it a chance. I went on our first trip to Death Valley this last October and found a new passion. I realized that when I was in nature, I could be free from my insecurities and take things at my own pace. I got to explore canyons and craters that I otherwise would have only seen in my dreams. I was pushed completely out of my comfort zone, but found that that was exactly where I needed to be. Because of the support that I felt from this community, I was able to take on leadership positions despite my being far less physically capable than others in the group. I was constantly out of breath, but we all had smiles on our faces.
Only weeks later, our next trip was around the corner. Just days before we were to leave on an 18 mile backpacking trip (my first backpacking experience EVER), my home life was a wreck. My parents had made their separation official, my dad’s anger issues were out of control, I had been hit, screamed at, and pushed to the ground, and my brother’s drinking was beginning to get out of control. The day before bag check, I came home to a trail of blood along the wall and police sirens. My brother had gotten into a drunk fight with my dad. I remember packing and thinking that I wasn’t strong enough to do this trip, but that I had to leave somehow.
We woke up after a night of hiking and started packing our bags to make it to the peak of Mount San Gorgonio. Within the first mile I felt my lungs burning and my head spinning. I broke down in tears saying that I couldn’t do it and that I needed to turn back. I explained to the adult leaders and some of my peers in the back of the group what I had been going through and how I just needed to be alone and cry, but they said that we needed to stay together for our own safety. They let me cry, but pushed me to keep stepping. They talked to me about politics, philosophy and anything that came to mind to keep my mind off of the pain and as I got closer and closer to the peak, I realized more and more how strong I was. That weekend I hiked 18 miles, up and down 6,000 feet of elevation. I came back feeling like I could do anything.
Since that day, I promised myself that I would do everything I could to create my own journey instead of living through others vicariously, so I have made this club a priority. I attend weekly meetings, take advantage of every learning opportunity whether it be map reading, cooking, or just working out, and I plan to take on the final challenge of planning/leading a full trip by May. Every single trip that I go on, I see myself climb literal and metaphorical mountains. The support that I have received from everyone in this club made me want to be able to do the same for them. It has opened me up to a world that I had always felt distanced from and reconnected me with nature. In OLT, we each are working to become the best versions of ourselves. It's amazing to see how much we can achieve when we just keep stepping forward.
I have always been a lover of adventure, but I only ever experienced it vicariously through books or movies. Before joining Outdoor Leadership Training, the thought of being out in the wilderness was something I couldn’t even fathom. I always had depression and low confidence, especially when it came to my physical abilities, but my teachers and friends who were a part of the club encouraged me to give it a chance. I went on our first trip to Death Valley this last October and found a new passion. I realized that when I was in nature, I could be free from my insecurities and take things at my own pace. I got to explore canyons and craters that I otherwise would have only seen in my dreams. I was pushed completely out of my comfort zone, but found that that was exactly where I needed to be. Because of the support that I felt from this community, I was able to take on leadership positions despite my being far less physically capable than others in the group. I was constantly out of breath, but we all had smiles on our faces.
Only weeks later, our next trip was around the corner. Just days before we were to leave on an 18 mile backpacking trip (my first backpacking experience EVER), my home life was a wreck. My parents had made their separation official, my dad’s anger issues were out of control, I had been hit, screamed at, and pushed to the ground, and my brother’s drinking was beginning to get out of control. The day before bag check, I came home to a trail of blood along the wall and police sirens. My brother had gotten into a drunk fight with my dad. I remember packing and thinking that I wasn’t strong enough to do this trip, but that I had to leave somehow.
We woke up after a night of hiking and started packing our bags to make it to the peak of Mount San Gorgonio. Within the first mile I felt my lungs burning and my head spinning. I broke down in tears saying that I couldn’t do it and that I needed to turn back. I explained to the adult leaders and some of my peers in the back of the group what I had been going through and how I just needed to be alone and cry, but they said that we needed to stay together for our own safety. They let me cry, but pushed me to keep stepping. They talked to me about politics, philosophy and anything that came to mind to keep my mind off of the pain and as I got closer and closer to the peak, I realized more and more how strong I was. That weekend I hiked 18 miles, up and down 6,000 feet of elevation. I came back feeling like I could do anything.
Since that day, I promised myself that I would do everything I could to create my own journey instead of living through others vicariously, so I have made this club a priority. I attend weekly meetings, take advantage of every learning opportunity whether it be map reading, cooking, or just working out, and I plan to take on the final challenge of planning/leading a full trip by May. Every single trip that I go on, I see myself climb literal and metaphorical mountains. The support that I have received from everyone in this club made me want to be able to do the same for them. It has opened me up to a world that I had always felt distanced from and reconnected me with nature. In OLT, we each are working to become the best versions of ourselves. It's amazing to see how much we can achieve when we just keep stepping forward.
Lidia Vazquez |
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OLT has taught me that a leader is someone that knows when to step up and when to step down to allow others to flourish, this was presented by everything we do even the simplest of forms of allowing different students to lead the group in our hikes. This concept can be observed in our leadership ranking where we allow new people to step up and assume leadership roles allowing them to work on self-advocacy. The community that Outdoor Leadership has cultivated through the years is irreplaceable. The positive attitude and supportiveness are palpable in the air where ever we go. It’s such a beautiful sight to see everyone walking alongside each other to accomplish a common goal.
Throughout the trips, there are to parallel aspects of your identity that are constantly growing. Our inter-personal interaction with our peers as well as our intra-personal growth: of who you are, what is important to you, and the stamina you have. Whenever I am having difficulties hiking I am presented with two great alternatives 1) take a deep breath and push myself to continue, taking a step at a time. 2) Announcing it to my group allowing all of us to stop and take a break as well as hydrate ourselves. |
I constantly do a combination of both throughout the trip. Such a small act like that can carry such a rich concept. Every single trip I have been has pushed me causing me to always surprise myself of what I am physically capable of achieving with my perseverance and the right support group.
This is my senior year and I just overcame the giant obstacle of applying to colleges. As a first generation student, I was lost and overwhelmed by the college application system. In the moments that I felt most hopeless and overwhelmed I revisited that concept that I learned in OLT, taking a deep breath and taking a step at a time as well as reaching out to my support group. I visualized my academic obstacles as a difficult backpacking trip. First, I had to make sure I was prepared that I had everything I needed secondly, I had to remind myself that I was not alone and had a “map” to guide me to the destination (college). Some of the most beautiful moments in my life are when we reach our destinations in OLT. The wind blowing refreshing our tired bodies observing the wondrous instances that nature gifted us, a bright simile stretching across all of our faces expressing happiness and satisfaction, this stratification is not created because we triumphed and reached our destination it is created through our new self-confidence, we were able to externalize our perseverance and have a tangible memory that through effort we can succeed. This mentality and memories created by OLT are constantly in my mind being used as fuel to help me thrive in other aspects of my life. Thanks to this I was able to apply and be accepted to many universities. The lessons and memorable moments that OLT has presented to me will forever be embroidered in my identity motivating to always be my best and strive to help others around me.
This is my senior year and I just overcame the giant obstacle of applying to colleges. As a first generation student, I was lost and overwhelmed by the college application system. In the moments that I felt most hopeless and overwhelmed I revisited that concept that I learned in OLT, taking a deep breath and taking a step at a time as well as reaching out to my support group. I visualized my academic obstacles as a difficult backpacking trip. First, I had to make sure I was prepared that I had everything I needed secondly, I had to remind myself that I was not alone and had a “map” to guide me to the destination (college). Some of the most beautiful moments in my life are when we reach our destinations in OLT. The wind blowing refreshing our tired bodies observing the wondrous instances that nature gifted us, a bright simile stretching across all of our faces expressing happiness and satisfaction, this stratification is not created because we triumphed and reached our destination it is created through our new self-confidence, we were able to externalize our perseverance and have a tangible memory that through effort we can succeed. This mentality and memories created by OLT are constantly in my mind being used as fuel to help me thrive in other aspects of my life. Thanks to this I was able to apply and be accepted to many universities. The lessons and memorable moments that OLT has presented to me will forever be embroidered in my identity motivating to always be my best and strive to help others around me.
Bryant Jordan Oca
OLT has single-handedly changed my life in many different ways. It has taught me so much about leadership, preparation, self-reflection, etc. I learned about taking leadership through the hikes and breaks we had throughout the trips. Hikes would help make sure that I was hydrated and secure while hiking, as well with making sure others are in good condition due to hikes being difficult. I learned about preparation through our Thursday meetings and on actual trips. On Thursday meetings, we have a checklist where we worry about what things we need to finish 6 weeks before the trip, 5 weeks before the trip, 4 weeks, and so on, so it’s a lot of action planning and researching. Actual trips also taught me about preparations because when things went wrong, it really showed us what we could’ve done better/prepared for. Overall OLT has changed my life because the family that we build is amazing, everyone is nonjudgemental, caring, want others to better themselves, etc. The culture and atmosphere is the main reason why I’ve been enjoying the classes. OLT is the actual best.
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Aaron Romero
At the end of my sophomore year, I was struggling, I had just quit baseball - a sport I had been doing since I was 5 - and the pressure from my parents to do something was weighing heavy on me. I was looking for something, something to free me of this pressure, stress, and uncertainty of what was to come. I found OLT, which was known as “Camping and Backpacking” at the time. Within two months of this club, I knew I found whatever I was looking for. I didn’t realize how much I truly learned on these trips until I was talking to my mom about my experiences. My mom saw how much I had grown as a person and how more outgoing I had gotten since joining the club, this was the main reason she allowed me to continue going on trips. So much has changed since those first couple trips in a sophomore year and looking back on it, I am a completely different person than I was.
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My mindset has changed, my attitude has changed, my physique has changed, and this is largely due to OLT. I would not have the goals and the desire to grow as much as I do if it were not for OLT. This whole year, I would’ve been lost, I would’ve been less than half the person I am today if I did not have OLT. The connections I’ve made, the skills I’ve built on, and the experiences I’ve had, have made me into the person that I am today. A person who has an earnest and hungry desire to grow in my mental state, as a person. Not only for myself but for those around me as well.
Natalie Twilegar
Before joining OLT, I saw it as a chance to go on trips and have stories to tell. Being a part of the club, even for just a couple months changed my outlook on life. Through the leadership of other students, I have gained the ability to take initiative in situations I never would have before. Going on trips allows me to be in new situations that challenge me and let me learn from my own experiences. Being a part of OLT is indefinitely rewarding and I hope to be a part of it for the rest of my high school career.
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Leonardo Amezcua
My name is Leo, I joined OLT this year not knowing what to expect. I was welcomed with open arms and felt comfortable in this OLT community. In OLT I have found a part of myself that I never knew existed, an adventurous and social part of me that I wish that I could have found earlier. I've been on two trips and both of them have been exceptional and memorable. I have had a really good experience in this program and I hope to have good experiences like these from now on. This is a way to get away from problems and understand how big the world really is and be away from electronics. The big problems that you have back home are really small when you go on these trips. I really like this program and wish to go on more trips like the ones that I have gone to in the past.
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Sarah Yi
For longer than I can remember, I’ve wished to be able to take pictures with my eyes. I have always experienced these little moments, “movie moments,” I like to call them… moments in which, for a tiny fragment of time, everything seems absolutely perfect, and I mean everything; the lighting, the energy, the setting, the noise, anything you can think of. So much so, that I wish I could capture these moments and hold them sacred forever. Inevitably, I have ended up relying on my mind to hold these memories for me. However, I do fear that one day my memory might fail me, and those beautiful moments will cease to exist, so I have decided to begin writing them down, and I would like to share one of them with you. Forgive me if my words don’t do it justice, but I will try my best.
My first trip with the camping club was not too long ago, back in November of last year. I had just gotten into High Tech High and I wasn’t entirely comfortable with anyone, but all of that changed during this trip. In fact, I don’t think I’ve met better people than the ones that went on this trip, and I realized that on the drive up to Joshua Tree.
It was a long drive, roughly three to four hours, and we were all taking the school vans. It was myself plus six other students in the van Max was driving. After a number of rest stops and gas stations, we had arrived, and what followed was one of the best moments I have ever had the chance to experience.
As we drove into the park, the sun was beginning to set, and it filled the car with this soft, golden light, the one my mom likes to complain about when she’s driving. We had all the windows down, with my hair flying all over the place and the wind gently pushing back our hands. “Nude” by Radiohead began to play, and that’s when it all hit me; this was it! this was my life, and I had never felt more grateful than I did in that moment. I couldn’t help but smile, and looking around, I noticed that everyone else probably felt the same way.
There’s a genuine sort of beauty in those short, fleeting moments. Beauty that can’t truly be captured in a photograph or a couple of words, not even in our minds. We can’t hope for our camera to do its job or our mind to store all of these memories as vividly as we’d hope. We can only be there, in that moment, and learn to cherish it, but to also let it go.
“As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.” - Siddhartha Gautama
My first trip with the camping club was not too long ago, back in November of last year. I had just gotten into High Tech High and I wasn’t entirely comfortable with anyone, but all of that changed during this trip. In fact, I don’t think I’ve met better people than the ones that went on this trip, and I realized that on the drive up to Joshua Tree.
It was a long drive, roughly three to four hours, and we were all taking the school vans. It was myself plus six other students in the van Max was driving. After a number of rest stops and gas stations, we had arrived, and what followed was one of the best moments I have ever had the chance to experience.
As we drove into the park, the sun was beginning to set, and it filled the car with this soft, golden light, the one my mom likes to complain about when she’s driving. We had all the windows down, with my hair flying all over the place and the wind gently pushing back our hands. “Nude” by Radiohead began to play, and that’s when it all hit me; this was it! this was my life, and I had never felt more grateful than I did in that moment. I couldn’t help but smile, and looking around, I noticed that everyone else probably felt the same way.
There’s a genuine sort of beauty in those short, fleeting moments. Beauty that can’t truly be captured in a photograph or a couple of words, not even in our minds. We can’t hope for our camera to do its job or our mind to store all of these memories as vividly as we’d hope. We can only be there, in that moment, and learn to cherish it, but to also let it go.
“As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life.” - Siddhartha Gautama
Livana Hill
Being in a new environment away from the place I call home is always one of the most thrilling experiences I can have. It feels as if I am in another world even if I am running alone through the canyon next to my house during sunset. The smell of the cold and plants mix and it just makes me feel alive. My first camping trip was to Yosemite. I had really no expectations. Yes, I knew the Mac wallpaper was a picture of the park but I didn’t really know how anything else would look like. I was woken up by the light of the sun, birds chirping and the cold in my nose. I didn’t even get out of the tent, I looked out the door and was amazed by what I was looking at. Tall trees with many shades of green. At that moment I knew I belonged there. I knew that my life would revolve around being in nature. My teacher, Regina Kruglyak is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. Regina has backpacked around the world in a reasonable and affordable way visiting places close to us like Joshua Tree, or farther places like Honduras. As I interviewed her she shared with me what felt like a little secret to exploring a new place, she told me she goes on a run. It makes her be able to look around the area without being a tourist and getting that extra intimidating attention. When she was in Honduras she would go on a run and by the end of it she would have around 50 kids running barefoot along with her. It was a very special moment that lead her to teaching some of those kids English. The outdoors is very powerful and there is no doubt about that. “Don’t let money or doubt or fear get in the way of the adventure.”
Yleanna Cruz
Camping has definitely been one of the most amazing and breathtaking opportunities I have ever received. Since I have joined this class I have found nothing but true happiness when I am out experiencing the outdoors. When on these camping trips I am able to learn so many life experiences whether that is from gaining general leadership skills when left with only a group of students to help organize a trip to learning new skills I never knew I had. OLT has taught me so much about myself and others and I believe that it has really been able to show me just how strong people can be when pushed out of their comfort zones and I think that is amazing. From these experiences I can now without a doubt say that being and experiencing the outdoors is my true passion and I wouldn't want it any other way. I have gained so many amazing friendships and relationships with those who get to experience OLT with me and have been able to share my story with so many others so they to can join and hopefully in the end be able to find genuine happiness within themselves and the beautiful outdoors they get to experience.
Sergio Sanchez
Yosemite
I had only heard stories and seen photos of this iconic place. This was the first time my eyes would lay eyes on Él Capitan and Half Dome, and words cannot describe what I was feeling inside. I was privileged enough to be the only junior allowed on the trip because the day after we came back, was the first day of junior internships. There couldn’t have been a better way to go into the month of internships, I was able to keep my mind focused on the natural beauty that surrounded me. It almost felt as if I were meditating; nature being my breathe, the only thing my mind had to process. This was the first time I had connected with nature on a personal level, finding a place in my life for the outdoors.
I had only heard stories and seen photos of this iconic place. This was the first time my eyes would lay eyes on Él Capitan and Half Dome, and words cannot describe what I was feeling inside. I was privileged enough to be the only junior allowed on the trip because the day after we came back, was the first day of junior internships. There couldn’t have been a better way to go into the month of internships, I was able to keep my mind focused on the natural beauty that surrounded me. It almost felt as if I were meditating; nature being my breathe, the only thing my mind had to process. This was the first time I had connected with nature on a personal level, finding a place in my life for the outdoors.