1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed. 

For my STEP Project, I traveled with a team of 15 other people to the Grand Canyon where we did trail service, backpacked below the rim, and rafted down the Colorado River. For the trail service, we restored a formerly flooded trail by using loppers, shovels, and rakes. The backpacking portion included lots of hiking and carrying all your stuff on your back! During rafting we hit some rapids and stopped at campsites along the river for the night.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place. 

Something that I learned that fascinated me with this trip is the human ability to adapt. This trip required a lot of little habits in my life to change. I had to poop in a bucket or in holes in the ground. I had to ration water. I couldn’t use my phone. I had to lick my plate clean instead of washing it. I had next to no privacy unless I was in my sleeping bag. I couldn’t shower for days at a time and used a lot of sunscreen. For someone like me who has a very distinct daily routine, changing all of these habits was a big worry for me on this trip. However, after a few days passed, I had totally gotten used to it. Pooping in a bucket became my new normal. I couldn’t believe how well I adapted to the environment around me. When I got home, my usual habits were things I realized I didn’t actually need! I found this trip to be empowering because I learned that I am able to adapt to any environment I’m in. I was able to overcome all of these little things and after a while my brain got used to it. After this trip, I feel a lot more comfortable and trusting with myself. I know that I will be okay wherever I go and whatever I do. I feel that this trip gave me a heightened sense of independence and confidence. 

3. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation. 

During the first few days of the trip, we had a bit of a “warm up” to the camping experience. I had been camping before, but never like this. We were in the middle of nowhere. No running water or bathrooms anywhere. At this point in the trip, I was forced to adapt to the routine of back-country camping. There weren’t chairs or a table to eat dinner, we sat on the ground and ate in our lap. My sleep schedule had to adjust: we went to bed around 9:00 pm and woke up whenever the sun came up. During all of this, I was meeting so many new people and getting to know personalities. While this part of the trip was a little overwhelming, I enjoyed each day. 

Before the backpacking portion of the trip, I had just gotten used to the camping lifestyle. But now we wouldn’t have tents, a large stove, or cars with us. In the same way I had to adjust to the camping lifestyle, now I had to adjust to a backpacking lifestyle. We could only take a few pairs of clothes. I wore the same outfit for 3 days in a row! We had to carry our gear and hydrating was more important than ever. While this was hard at first, I once again adapted to the backpacking lifestyle and got used to it a few days in. 

During the rafting portion of the trip, we had to totally switch gears again. Instead of using my hiking boots I switched to waterproof sandals and clothes. Our gear had to stay in rafts and had new cooking supplies. Just as I was getting used to the backpacking lifestyle, I had to adapt again to the rafting lifestyle. 

The format of the trip forced me to adapt multiple times over. Once I got used to one lifestyle, we had to change it up and something new would be thrown my way. While this was chaotic, looking back I realize how much it helped me grow. I realize now the power my mind and body have to adapt to any lifestyle I want. Because I had to adapt to camping, backpacking, and rafting lifestyles, I feel confident that I can take on anything that life throws my way. 

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

This development is important to me because it gave me reassurance. As a person, I feel more confident and excited to live my life knowing that I’m capable of taking on daunting tasks. Although it was hard, I got through it and I’m here today. Going forward each day I have a newfound sense of accomplishment and confidence. 

This trip also gave me gratitude. By not having nothing I realized how lucky I am to have the things I have. Showers were such a treat on the trip, but back home I get them every day. I realized how lucky I am to have running water that is so accessible to me. And good food too! By the end of the trip, any real meat was hard to come by. Realizing that here at home, I can buy any food I want from the store is really special. This sense of confidence and gratitude are traits that I believe will help me be a better person moving forward with life.