As you may know, I have been away in Ecuador for the first semester of my junior year, participating in an expedition and wilderness-based program offered by a non-profit organization called Kroka Expeditions. The program length was about four months- from August to December, and we spent one month in New Hampshire and three months in Ecuador. I received high school credits from this experience, while exploring Ecuador and learning in lots of different hands-on ways.

My family and I saved for years in preparation for this amazing opportunity, and now that it is over, I am certain all the hard work was well worth it. The amount of growth that I experienced over the course of the semester program is greater than any that I’ve experienced in my whole life, and I have come away with so many new skills, realizations, and ideas. The information that I have learned is not just sitting inside me stagnate, I have used it already and will continue to use it to grow and develop my mind, body, and spirit through the course of my entire life.




My "big job", which is the main responsibility that you are assigned during the semester, was navigator. I was the one who learned the routes, explained it to the group, and acted as the major decision maker during expeditions. I mastered my skills using the compass, maps, an altimeter, and other navigational tactics. I became relied upon by the group, teaching and advising daily navigators and anyone who was interested. From this responsibility, I developed my leadership, public speaking, problem solving, critical thinking, and navigational skills. In these ways I noticed a lot of growth and development, and this job was an important part of this experience to me. 

I have learned so much about myself and the world around me in the past couple months, and I wish to continue with that growth and education by participating in the Arctic to Manhattan semester that Kroka provides which begins in January and ends in June. Click here to read all about this trip.  Toward the end of the Ecuador semester I was invited to continue with straight into this second semester, and it will me with another amazing opportunity to better myself and eventually use that knowledge to better the world around me.

As this decision was decided just recently and so abruptly, I have not had the same opportunity as before to prepare and save the necessary funds for this program before it begins. So, I am reaching out to ask if friends and family to see if anyone would like to support me on this endeavor.  Any amount is greatly appreciated. I know this is a difficult time of year, so the smallest amount is still extremely helpful, or even just your support, encouragement, and maybe a hand-written letter. The expedition starts January 13th and will not be completed until June 8th. Whatever is donated by the start of the semester may be spent on equipment, tuition, or other miscellaneous related needs. This type of education has benefited me in so many ways, and I want to thank everyone for supporting me in whatever way they can. This means so much to me, and so far these experiences have changed my life in so many ways.


Click here to read all about the Arctic to Manhattan semester.