Past

“I really want you to push your comfort level this next week.”

Upon meeting my instructor mentor, he dropped this line in that initial conversation. Not that I am a complacent human, but I heard that and internally balked. Being in a new place, venturing into the new realm of field education, I wanted to start out on a safe foot.

With the start of each new field week with students, we set group goals for the team - one reoccurring theme being the expectation to support each other. For one field group this meant cheering on Quinn, a kid who had never cross country skied before, and was having a tough run of it. His tenacity as he pushed through the barriers of his comfort zone helped him get on his feet again and again alongside the support of his peers.

Watching both Quinn, and kids in the preceding and following field weeks, I have seen big things happen as they explore new places, both in terms of physical location, and comfort levels.

Future

Gaining experience lesson planning, managing groups, working in teams both large and small, and living and working in an intentional community are all experiences that I truly value. Above all of those, however, adapting to and exploring new experiences enforced a confidence that is widely applicable.