Teens Westward Bound

As I walked toward a bus full of strangers, using my sunglasses to shield the tears forming in my eyes, I couldn’t help but to be apprehensive of what was to become of the next twenty-three days of my life. As I trudged up the stairs of the bus leaving behind all that was known, I couldn’t help but wonder; What have I gotten myself into?

This summer I had the honor of traveling the United States with eighty-one strangers through a program called, Teens Westward Bound. This was the hardest and most rewarding hurdle I have ever overcome. As a habitually shy person the only words I could use to describe myself are introverted, cautious, and modest. I have maintained the same group of friends since elementary school and I saw no problem

with keeping it that way. Applying for Teens Westward Bound was a difficult decision for me because while on the trip you are not permitted to bring a cellphone. Personally the idea of going without a cell phone was a gut wrenching decision not because I am attached to my phone, but because it meant losing all contact with my family and friends back home. I took some solace in the fact that someone I knew might be applying, however, once I was made aware that I was the first from my school to apply for the program, that sliver of hope I was holding onto vanished. When I got my acceptance letter I was left with a hard decision. Should I step dangerously far out of my comfort zone or miss out on the opportunity of lifetime? Ultimately, I had a surge of confidence and an abundance of people telling me that I would regret not seizing this opportunity, so I took a leap of faith and travelled to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Stepping onto the bus that day the butterflies in my stomach were on an all new level. I immediately sat down in the first open seat near the window. From all the chatter on the bus I convinced myself that I was the only one who knew nobody. I was approached by a girl my age looking just as anxious as I felt. We exchanged a few words before ultimately coming to an unspoken agreement that we would ride in silence, sparing each other the grief of trying to find hours worth of small talk topics. This comfort ended shortly when out trip director informed us that at every stop we made, everyone would have to switch seats and meet someone new. This instilled a new sense of fear inside of me. However, with every seat change I could feel a little piece of my insecurities chipping away. With every new person came a new personality and I could physically feel myself starting to open up to my new reality.

With each passing day I made new friends that I now consider family. If it weren’t for this trip kindly forcing me to step out of my comfort zone I wouldn’t be half the person I am today. It taught me how to open up to people, which is a skill I never thought I would learn. Before leaving for my journey across the country, I was fearful of what was to come in college. I was afraid of how I was going to make friends and how to survive alone if I couldn’t figure it out. Thanks to the trip and the copious amount of friends I made, I have no reservations about starting my life in college and I have learned to embrace the unknown. I have learned that sticking to the same beaten path, while comforting, is the worst way to go about living. Life is about exploring possibilities and taking hold of everything that scares you because it will be rewarding in the end.