To most people, living without electricity for seven weeks, having to bike 250 miles, hike for five days and canoe for five days sounds awful but for some reason it appealed to me. Knowing I was about to bike 250 miles over the course of five days sounded painful given my inexperience, hiking Vermont’s Long Trail while carrying 50 pounds on my back seemed exhausting and canoeing in a hailstorm appeared treacherous. However when I look back on these hardcore moments from my 2011 summer, all I can do is smile.

I never would have thought that I would have been able to accomplish any of these extreme tasks but somehow I did. Living without electricity taught me more about myself than I would have expected. I learned that the only thing you need in life in order to succeed is your friends and self confidence. That summer I lived with 38 other kids who I have known since I was about eight years old. At the beginning of the summer, we all were like minded when I say we were scared out of our minds.

Our unit grew closer each day, slowly becoming a family. It wasn’t always easy but we knew we needed each other to get through any and every challenge. The closer we grew the more independence we gained. I finally had the awareness that the other 38 always had my back. I set personal goals knowing that if I ever failed there would be people there to encourage me. The trips slowly gave me awareness that I could do anything without reservation. All I needed was my friends and a little self confidence.

The beginning of this summer was about our reliance on each other but as more time passed the more our self-confidence was highlighted. I could have decided to not be a part of this program but instead I chose to be physically and emotionally challenged as I was. I was in control of my life. That summer transformed me, and I truly discovered myself.

To this day, I know that I can conquer any task even if at first it sounds impossible. The word impossible even says "I'm possible." Not everything comes easy at first, I mean, I used to think biking five miles was hard but somehow I biked 250. I never would have thought I would be able to carry 50 pounds on my back while hiking but somehow I did. I never thought I would be able to canoe in a hailstorm but somehow I did. All you need in life is friends to encourage you and a little self confidence and you can accomplish anything.