A Thames High School student didn’t want to leave her experience at Outward Bound at the start of August.
Year 12 student Ora Wiki told The Profile she “felt my best” at the programme and wished she could go back.
“I wanted to beat our challenges,” she said.
Outward Bound offers people challenges and adventure through different outdoor activities.
It was Ora’s first time being part of Outward Bound, which was held at Anakiwa, a town near Picton, she said.
It’s a programme where people learn and improve soft skills and life skills in general, she said.
“You push yourself to the limits mentally and physically.”
Her main objective was to gain confidence and “better my decision making” through the things she learned, Ora said.
She was part of a group of 13 with two instructors, she said.
Even though it was a “scary experience” opening up to strangers, Ora said the group was kind and understanding.
“Those people are now my whānau,” she said.
One thing that stood out to Ora about the teamwork between her and the others was “we gelled so quickly”, she said.
“We became family like we’d known each other our whole lives.” Ora said they motivated each other and always had each other’s backs.
“We communicated effectively and listened to each other.”
The hardest thing Ora experienced was tramping which was “mentally and physically challenging”, she said.
Although it was hard, Ora said it was exhilarating alongside rowing and rock climbing.
“Each adventure was breathtaking and exhausting – that feeling of routine yet adventure and truly being in the moment was incredible.”
The best way to prepare for Outward Bound was to get into a routine of waking up early, working on regular fitness and being on time or early to class, school and functions, she said.
For others who are thinking about going to Outward Bound, Ora said “do it”.
“Enjoy yourself and live completely and utterly in the moment.”
