Reflective Essay On Course Experience

Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, once said, “Coming together is a process; keeping together is progress; working together is success” (Ford). Ford’s quote captures my entire Launch experience into one thought. Over the course of four days, I learned more about myself than I probably have in the past four years. As well as learning about myself, I also grew to know twenty-two strangers I had never met before. My MOI classmates came to be the first group of students I truly got to know and form relationships with at Loras. These relationships would not be as strong as they are without the situations and struggles I faced with my group at the ropes course. My Launch into Loras ropes course experience taught me new ways to use clear, effective communication, while stressing the importance of trust when building relationships.

Without the use of communication, many of the ropes course activities would have been impossible to complete. For example, one obstacle consisted of one person leading the entire group through a maze. Everyone but the leader had their eyes shut, and directed the group using verbal cues and passing them down the line. This exercise stressed the importance of open communication. Not only was it important for everyone to verbally relate the upcoming obstacle to the person behind them, but it was equally crucial for each individual to be receptive to others’ cues. This can be related to group situations and

discussions in the classroom. Thoroughly communicating my thoughts and ideas, as well as being open and receptive to my peers’ insights, can help me learn and adapt to different ways of learning, thinking, and problem solving.
Through open communication and positive interaction, trust naturally developed between the members of my group. As we supported each other and collectively worked to achieve a common goal, the strength of our team grew immensely. The “Three Mountains” activity greatly tested our trust in one other. As we moved from one “mountain” to another, the person walking across had to have complete confidence in the people standing on the board, holding it in place. Without that trust, passing from one mountain to another would have been impossible. Then, after the entire group stood on the middle mountain, the struggle became trying to get the board out from under our feet. Being so tightly packed, one wrong move could have pushed someone over the edge. As group members shared their strategies to pick up the board, it was important that everyone was respectful to and considerate of new ideas. Certain individuals’ strong leadership qualities emerged, while others sat back and trusted the more dominant figures. We diligently worked through adversity, and our outcome was remarkably successful. Though it may have challenged our patience more than any other obstacle, I feel the “Three Mountains” obstacle helped build trusting relationships within my group that will be extremely beneficial in the classroom. It will be important to have mutual trust between my classmates and me as we share our personal ideas and opinions in class. The foundational trust we built during our time at the ropes course will set us up for success in future classroom situations.
Looking back on Launch, I realize how much it benefitted my transition into life here at Loras.

The first friends I made were my MOI classmates and the positive experiences I shared with them at the ropes course have set the tone for what is to come over the course of the semester. Though I learned an abundance of skills over the weekend, my Launch into Loras ropes course experience especially taught me the importance of clearly and effectively communicating, as well as the value in building trusting relationships with my

peers.