My STEP signature project was a twenty-five day leadership expedition to Australia and New Zealand with the Outdoor Adventure Center at Ohio State. Throughout the trip, everyone had the opportunity to be leader of the day of multiple challenging yet beautiful excursions. Each day consisted of adventures like hiking, kayaking, bike-riding, and snorkeling intertwined with daily leadership theory.

As the trip progressed, I learned many things about my leadership style and myself as a whole. I discovered that I enjoy leadership and that I am a leader by example at heart. Prior to this trip, I accepted the false notion that leaders always had to be the most vocal or outgoing, and, as our expedition progressed, I learned that there are multiple styles of leadership. Throughout the day I was leader, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed guiding the group and making decisions to ensure a successful day. In the end, I can definitely see myself holding multiple leadership roles in the future and enjoying the process. Additionally, this trip significantly improved my mental health by allowing me to accept my true self, ultimately making myself a happier and more confident person as a whole.

Another thing this project taught me was the power of letting go of social media. On our adventures, we would prioritize personal relationships and completely separate ourselves from our phones. From this experience, I met 22 amazing individuals without any distractions which made the trip exponentially more enjoyable. Furthermore, this experience taught me how to appreciate the true beauty of our planet and sparked a passion within myself to continue to travel and witness mother nature for the rest of my life.

From directly observing leadership from other individuals or personally reflecting on my own, I believe I improved myself as a leader on this trip. Every day, each leader taught me something new that I could implement in my own style of leadership. Additionally, when I was leader in Lake Wanaka, I led the group on a scenic bike ride and a tremendously difficult hike up the Rocky Mountains. As the day went on, I found myself leading by example more than anything. Whether I was taking the initiative on the bike ride or showing the group a certain way to maneuver a difficult portion of the hike, I grew as a leader while embracing my personal style.

During the trip, our group agreed to entirely set aside our phones at certain parts of the day. I quickly learned how freeing it was to completely separate yourself from technology and connect with others around you. I believe our group became so close because of our commitment to each other and not our phones. I remember how easy it was starting conversations with others at the dinner table, sharing life stories on adventures, or joking with each other in the common room. This is something I believe we do not prioritize enough in our modern society with the constant distraction of technology, and I pledge to continue these healthy habits back in the United States.

This project also taught me about the true beauty of our planet. Most of us would agree that their favorite part of the trip was the “5 minutes of silence” on every adventure we encountered, a time where the group would take a few minutes to take in the breathtaking scenery that New Zealand and Australia had to offer. During this time, I was truly able to take in mother nature and appreciate our planet’s natural beauty from pumping New Zealand waterfalls to the great canyons of Katoomba.

I will cherish the memories I have made and remember the lessons I have learned on this trip forever. This project taught me so much not only about myself as a leader but as an individual as well. It constantly kept me outside of my comfort zone and engrained numerous lessons within myself throughout the entire trip. As I continue to lead, connect with others, or travel around the world in the future, I will always think back to this amazing project and the lessons I have learned to continually improve myself in every experience ahead of me. In the future, I plan to become a doctor, a profession where the lessons of leadership and personal communication will prove to be extremely useful. Ultimately, this trip has been the most transformational experience of my life and I will carry this amazing trip with me forever.

My step project was through the outdoor adventure center at Ohio State and included multiple action packed outdoor activities in the beautiful countries of Australia and New Zealand. Me and 20 other people completed multiple 10+ mile hikes, white water rafted, bungee jumped, kayaked and participated in many other action packed activities. During these activities we were able to develop our leadership abilities by appointing leaders each day to organize activities and prepare meals for the group.

Before going on this trip I was obviously ecstatic about going to two of the most beautiful countries in the world, two places that were at the top of my travel wish list. I was excited to skydive and white water raft and do a bunch of things that I might not get the chance to do again in my life, especially in a place so far from home. I was also excited to experience a different way of life and to notice the culture differences that come with traveling so far away.

What I didn’t think about before this trip and what I didn’t expect at all was that the most transformational part of my step project came from the 20 others that I went on the trip with. I signed up for it not knowing if I would know a single other person going, (it turns out I knew two of them previously from school, but didn’t know them too well) but after spending 24 days with them I can honestly say I have 20 new friends that I feel closer with than anyone I’ve ever met.

Obviously when you live with 20 other people and see them day in and day out, you’re going to get close with them. Although that is true, I don’t believe that any other group of 21 people could have clicked as well as we did. I think everyone felt comfortable having a 1 on 1 conversation with anyone else in the group, and that was the case within the first week.

I remember the first night in Australia when we finished our scavenger hunt and all met back up for dinner. We were all starving and tired from the long flight and getting ready to finally have a real meal. I remember everyone talking about what they were getting and what looked good on the menu. We all noticed the kangaroo on the menu, and the conversations continued to wondering who was going to get the kangaroo.

After hearing that Madison was getting the kangaroo, Drew quickly jumped on board. Everyone was starving and just craving a good meal that they knew they would enjoy, but they decided to try something new. Everyone started hearing people were actually getting the kangaroo and started wondering if they should also just get it because when else would they get to try kangaroo other than in Australia. I was still debating, as I really just wanted something I knew I’d like since I’d been so hungry all day. Then the peer pressure came. More and more people decided to get the kangaroo, and wanted to make sure everyone else did too. I was one of the last ones to decide to get it, because I couldn’t take the bullying from Rachel and Drew.

Kangaroo

This might seem like a random pointless memory from such a fun trip, but it was more important to me for a reason. The peer pressure and encouragement to step outside my comfort zone with people I had just met set the atmosphere and the foundation of our group’s relationship for the rest of the trip. We pushed each other in the best way possible. This trip has been going on for 5 years at Ohio State, and the most out of those groups that had skydived had been 4. Every single one of us skydived. No OSU group before us completed the 13 mile hike before dark. We were the first. Every single one of us that bungee jumped chose to get dunked in ice cold water because when else were we going to be able to jump off a bridge into a river in New Zealand? The encouragement that the group shared and how we pushed each other made the experience so much more meaningful, as we completely opened ourselves up to each other and truly lived without fear for 24 days.

As the trip went on our relationships only continued to grow. We shared childhood stories, laughed at the dumbest things, and played a whole lot of euchre. All the while growing used to waking up every day knowing it’s another fun action packed day with some of the best people I have ever met.

When it was time to return home is when all of this really hit me. The trip was fun and New Zealand and Australia were amazing countries, but I could not believe I would have to go home and leave the people I just spent the last month of my life with. They showed me how to be okay with stepping outside my comfort zone and not being afraid to live life and take risks. I believe that was the most valuable thing I took away from this trip. I realize now that sometimes you have to ignore that little voice in your head telling you to take the easy way out, or just do whatever you’re used to doing and are comfortable with. I learned the best things in life are spontaneous and unexpected, and life is too short to be scared.

Leaving that group made me realize I have to continue that mindset even without people to push me to think that way. Even in my professional career after college I think it’s okay to take risks and take chances that might not work out. Take that new job that seems more fun even though you’re comfortable in your current job. Move around often and see new places. Take chances. After my experience I’ve learned it’s much better to tell yourself yes and ignore your comfort rather than wonder what could have been.

All of that aside, this trip was the single best decision I have ever made. I was so close to choosing not to go and I think about that a lot, because it would have been the easy and comfortable thing to do. Yet I chose to go, and my spontaneous and unexpected decision turned into an experience that I will cherish and continue to learn from for the rest of my life. It gave me friendships that will last a lifetime and bonds that can never be broken, and I know this month of my life will stay with me forever.

1.I used my STEP money to go to Australia and New Zealand, through a trip that was organized by the OAC at Ohio State.  We traveled around both countries for around 10-11 days, and most days consisted of hiking or high level intensity activities, such as mountain biking, snorkeling, etc.

2. During my STEP project, I was able to see the world outside the United States.  Throughout the program, myself as well as my colleagues noticed how different our own country was from both Australia and New Zealand.  For one, the countries are both eco-friendly.  They take initiative to make sure their home stays clean, and they do not allow littering whatsoever.  Another difference I noticed is the friendliness of the people.  Both countries loved to talk about their homeland, and it was amazing to see how proud they were of where they were from.  In addition, it was amazing to see lots of wildlife and take hikes through glaciers, rainforests, etc, especially since I had never been to places like this before.  I think the major transformations for me was how I looked at the world around me.  I was able to see the way that we should treat our world, and how we should take each moment in nature with a grain of salt, because someday we may not have access to this vibrant earth.  I took home the practices of sustainability that I learned in Australia and New Zealand and I will continue to use them frequently, but as I learned about sustainable practices, I was also able to learn about myself as well.

3. I gained my new found view of sustainability and confidence in myself throughout this trip through three categories: interactions with the people, interactions with the wildlife, and stepping outside my comfort zone to immerse myself in nature.

At the beginning of the trip, we were introduced to our trip leader, Anthony, who would be with us throughout our time in Australia.  From the beginning I could see how passionate Anthony was about showing us around the country and helping us see all it had to offer.  This was my first of many interactions with the locals, and throughout my time in Australia, and I had many conversations with people about the sustainability of the country.  While on a bus one time, I had a talk with a woman sitting next to me, and she spoke of how highly they regard their sustainability system.  They fine heavily for littering, and public transportation is huge in big cities to avoid high emissions.  When we t

raveled to New Zealand, I felt the same high regard for sustainability as well after speaking to the locals.  I ran into an American who has been living in New Zealand for five years, and he stated that the difference is astounding.  Even though we have our Parks in the US, he stated that people treat wildlife differently in New Zealand because they are constantly engaging with it, and it surrounds them at all times, so they see the damage they do to nature if they aren’t careful, whereas in the US, sometimes this isn’t the case.

In addition, hikes, snorkeling, and even trips to the zoo throughout the two countries expedited my level of appreciation for sustainable practices. As I was hiking through the Blue Mountains in Australia, I saw so many ferns and listened to so many waterfalls, and I really felt engaged with nature. I was able to see if for my own eyes, but it made me realize that maybe the reason why people in the US aren’t so keen to use sustainable practices is because they don’t see the impact they make every day, and therefore aren’t “affected” by the way they treat the environment.  By going snorkeling in the great barrier reef, i was able to see a real living reef, and it made the damage we are doing to the reef that much more tangible for me. In addition, after a trip to the Sydney zoo, where the animals are rarely caged and allowed to move about it a safe setting, I realized that we treat our animals with less dignity by caging them.  I know now that sustainable practices also applies to activities like zoos, where we should treat our wildlife with the same dignity as we treat people around us.

Finally, as I went about the trip and learned about sustainable practices, I was also able to grow in confidence within myself and learn how I really can do anything if I put my mind to it.   During one of the days, we had to do a 10 mile hike all the way down and back up a canyon in the Blue Mountains.  It was one of the most grueling, gut wrenching hikes I have ever performed, and took the entire day for us to complete.  However, if I was not on this trip, I never would have known I was able to do that, and I am extremely proud of myself and will never forget the feeling of accomplishment I had after that.  Likewise, I was also given the ability to go skydiving in Cairns, Australia.  I have always had an immense fear of heights, but after I did it, I was so proud of my ability to overcome the fear and do something out of the ordinary.  There were several moments throughout the trip where I grew in confidence of myself, all while gaining sustainable practices that I could take home with me.

4.  This trip relates to my future endeavors because it made me change the path that I was currently on.  Right now, I am set to get a degree in STEM Education with a focus in high school Mathematics.  I have always had the dream of working with underprivileged youth, and for the past few summers, have had the ability to work at a summer camp and give youth from Cincinnati the chance to see the outdoors.  I have always loved nature, but it was this trip that made me realize that a career in outdoor education might be a good job for a few years for me. I think it would be amazing to take kids out in the woods, and show them the impact we are having on our planet, because that it where I think real change will happen.  Immersion is the key, and once we do that, we can teach them sustainable practices that will stick with them. This trip gave me the confidence to make this change in my life, and to go into a career that I have a new found passion for.  I am excited to take my new love of sustainability back to school, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have visited two extremely beautiful countries.

For my STEP experience I traveled to New Zealand and Australia for twenty-five days on a leadership expedition with the Outdoor Adventure Center. Each participant was given the opportunity to be leader of the day and guide us through the day’s outdoor adventure activities. As leader of the day, our positivity, timeliness, organization, and team-work skills were tested as each activity presented a unique challenge.

I think the most valuable information I gained from this experience is how powerful the people you surround yourself with can be on your actions and thoughts. I was lucky enough to be surrounded by a group of amazing individuals the entirety of the trip who gave me the courage to do things outside of my comfort zone. I would have never thought I could lead a group of twenty-five people throughout a day of busy adventure activities, go-skydiving, or hike up a mountain for hours on hours without the support of those around me. I think this is a really important idea to bring back home and incorporate into my daily life. The people who you interact with every day have way more of an effect on you than you might originally think.

The first event that helped me realize this was one of our first big hikes of the trip. I came into the trip with an already nagging hip injury that I was worried would stand in my way of completing some of our activities. As we came to the end of one of our first hikes, we approached what seemed like a never-ending flight of stairs to a viewing deck. Additionally, stairs happen to be one of the most aggravating factors to my injury and I wanted to turn back as soon as I saw them. However, with the encouragement of the rest of the group I made it up the countless stairs one-by-one. Once I got to the top, I felt extremely grateful for the motivation and inspiration of the group to push past my initial fear of the stairs.

The second event, and maybe most significant for me, was conquering a bungy-jump. One of my biggest fears before this trip was heights. Even walking over a really high bridge made me shaky in the legs. I signed up for the jump and instantly felt nauseous. Furthermore, I stayed up almost the whole night before thinking of reasons for me to back out of the adrenaline pumping endeavor. As I voiced my paralyzing fear of heights to the group, I got reassuring statements that I could do it and had the mindset that there was no turning back now. As I saw each person one by one do the courageous jump, I felt like I could definitely do it as well. It was still absolutely terrifying for me but the freeing nature I felt after the experience made me feel like I could do anything I set my mind to!

Another event on the trip that guided my transformational experience was a failure from my perspective at first glance. I conquered another big hike the day before and, on this upcoming day, there was an even more strenuous hike ahead. My injury had felt the worse it felt in a while and I wanted to do everything in my power to ignore that pain. This led to several conversations with other participants about listening to my body and sitting out of the big hike. I reached the conclusion with the help of others that I needed to take a break for a day so that I was able to enjoy the rest of the trip’s activities. I am really grateful that I had supportive friends around me that encouraged me to do the right thing for myself. Before the trip, I would have definitely pushed through the pain and done more damage to my body just to keep up with the rest of the group. However, I learned that taking care of myself is one of the most important things that I can do.

Before this trip I was a very independent person who did not like to rely on others for their help or encouragement. However, I found the support from the other participants who are now some of my best friends to be the most special thing to come out of the trip for me. I am inspired to continue to surround myself with a diverse group of individuals that will constantly motivate me to go outside my comfort zone, try new things, and push myself further. Academically, surrounding myself with those with a passion to learn will be extremely beneficial. Professionally, developing strong relationships with those I look up to will motivate me to be the best I can be. Most importantly, I will continue to seek out new adventures and the empowerment that stems from outdoor adventure as it is essential to have people in your life that inspire you to do things that you did not think were even possible for yourself.

1. My STEP project was a 25-day trip in New Zealand and Australia.  We spent our time hiking, biking, kayaking, snorkeling, boating, and more.  Throughout the trip leadership training was mixed into the trip every day to help us learn about leadership and what it takes to be an effective leader.

2.  My views on life were transformed in many ways because of this trip.  One thing that changed was my view on uncomfortable situations.  Throughout this trip we were placed in many uncomfortable situations.  We were pushed way out of our comfort zone and I learned that being uncomfortable is how you grow.  You cannot grow in your comfort zone.  I also learned that on the other side of an uncomfortable situation is an amazing feeling of accomplishment and happiness.  Another view on life that changed is the value of putting your phone away and having quality conversations with the people around you.  Throughout the trip I got to meet 22 amazing people and the time I spent talking with them and getting to know them was extremely valuable.  So often in today’s world we get caught up in our phones instead of being in the present moment and enjoying time with the people around us.

Another aspect of life that my view changed on is that a leader can come in many different forms.  A leader does not have to be a commanding speaker or someone who is outgoing.  A leader can be quieter and lead by example or lead by doing behind the scenes work.   I will now have respect for the way people lead in ways that aren’t as common as people would think.  I also now know that I can lead in other ways besides being a verbal leader.

3.  We were pushed out of our comfort zone in many ways.  Whether it was standing on the edge of a bridge before bungee jumping, a long hike where my legs felt like they couldn’t go any more or being wet and cold in a kayak or river, it was times like these where I knew my mental toughness and personality would grow.  I have never done anything like bungee jumping before, so standing up on the bridge was a surreal experience.  I have never been so uncomfortable in my life.  Jumping off was a feeling I will never forget, and it was just like jumping out of my comfort zone.  At the bottom laughing and hugging my friends was a moment that I will never forget.  Throughout the trip we did many hikes, and there was a specific hike in Katoomba (24 miles of hiking in 2 days) on the second day where we were at the bottom of a canyon and reaching the end of the hike.  All we had to do was go straight up into the air to get out of the canyon.  We were all exhausted, dead tired, and looked up at the insane climb we had.  We came together as one, embraced the discomfort, and put one foot in front of the next until we were out of the canyon.  The feeling at the top with everyone was indescribable, and the growth in that moment was so evident.

Throughout the trip we did not have much internet connection, and sometimes we went 2-3 days without it.  At first, I did not know what this would be like, but it turned out to be one of the best parts of the trip.  Being able to put my phone away and fully engage with the people around me for 25 days was an unbelievable experience.  Going on these hikes and getting to know 22 people that I did not know at first was so cool.  We had no phone zones in the hostels and these were times where we all were able to connect and grow so close to each other.  Not having connection is a reason why I now have 22 new great relationships that I did not have before this trip.

Each day there were two leaders of the day who oversaw planning the day and making sure the day was running smoothly.  I learned so much about being a leader during the day I was leader of the day.  It was a new experience for me getting to lead in an environment like this, and I learned so much about myself and what it takes to be a leader in different environments.  Getting to watch everybody else be leader of the day and observe all the different leadership styles completely transformed my view on what a leader is.

4.  This change is significant to my life because I am currently in a transformational time in my life where so much is changing, and I just gained personable skills and leadership skills that I can carry with me throughout this important time in my life.  I will now look at difficult situations from a different perspective, knowing that in an uncomfortable situation I am growing and that there are great things on the other side.  I want to go into the medical field, so these communication and leadership skills will help me greatly in this field and in my career.  This trip was incredibly transformational, and I will forever be grateful for what I learned on this adventure.  I will use these skills for the rest of my life and always remember this trip as one of the most life changing experiences I ever had.

1. My STEP Project was centered around an intensive leadership training program in San Diego, California. Leadership skills were learned through training sessions by Cru staff members and implemented though involvement in the surrounding community.
2. Before beginning my STEP Project, I looked forward to a transformation in my view and understanding of leadership. During my time in San Diego I was able to observe successful leadership principles in action and have the opportunity to implement those principles in our involvement with the community. One principle that really stayed with me was the beauty of listening. Listening is a key component of fully understanding how one can best serve in certain situations and is essential in successful leadership. Another transformation I looked forward to was an expansion in my knowledge of others’ cultures and backgrounds. This was done both through the location of my project and the group of students I was able to work with. I didn’t think it would be possible to work so closely and become such good friends with a group of students in only a week. However, I learned what it looks like for a group of students with very different backgrounds to unite through a common goal of expanding leadership abilities. It felt like within the first 24 hours, we had already built lasting friendships. Through building many new relationships with the students in my project and members of the surrounding community, I was also able to deepen my communication abilities. As mentioned above, listening was a major component of productive communication. The biggest transformation I experienced through this STEP Project was a tremendous growth in my confidence. Before this experience, I didn’t have many opportunities to put my leadership skills into practice. However, through this experience I was able to implement effective leadership skills so I can now confidently bring them back to campus and future employment opportunities.
3. A major part of my transformation in view and understanding of leadership came from the Cru staff members who led our training in San Diego. What made this team of staff members so unique was the wide variety of ideas and skills each brought to the group. Specifically, one staff member truly represented what it looked like to attentively listen to understand how to best serve a group. She was usually the last person to contribute to a conversation; however, her responses were always well thought-out and added exactly what was needed. Another staff member was closer to our age as students and was able to really connect with us on a different level than other staff members. I observed the importance of connecting with people through a common interest, goal, or belief to be able to effectively lead.

   The other transformations discussed such as knowledge of others’ cultures and backgrounds and communication skills can be widely attributed to the group of students who participated in the project. Students came from all over the country with many diverse backgrounds to be a part of this intensive training. It was so interesting to see how people’s backgrounds had such an impact on their leadership qualities and approaches. In addition, I was able to learn about different cultures through others’ experiences growing up.

   Lastly, the location of the project had a huge impact on the effectiveness of transformations during my STEP Project. California had always been a foreign concept to me, and I had no idea what to expect. San Diego was incredible in the sense of culture, community, lifestyle, etc. There is a big presence of Mexican culture in San Diego due to its proximity to the border. It was very enlightening to be able to see the unique impact the Mexican culture had on the city.

4. Leadership is something that is important in every aspect of life. Through my STEP Project I have seen what effective leadership looks like and have been given the opportunity to implement and improve my own skills. Not only will my transformation in leadership abilities greatly benefit my college years, but it will also play a major role in my future career. At The Ohio State University, the opportunities to display leadership are endless, ranging from the classroom to student organizations. My career aspirations include a role in the medical field. In the medical field, one must express leadership through taking charge when needed, advocating for a patient, etc. In addition, the transformation in my knowledge of others’ culture and backgrounds will have positive effects on my leadership through expanding my ability to relate to others. Understanding someone’s background is important to building trust which is essential in a successful leader. The experience of traveling to a new part of the country further expanded my understanding of different cultures and ways of living. This will again help with relating to others and simply my knowledge of other cultures. Overall, my STEP Project provided immense transformations in my life which will benefit me now and into my future.

1. The Preparing for Physician’s Assistant (P.A.) School project was centered around meeting the qualifications needed to apply for P.A. school. One of the main requirements for P.A. school is patient care hours (most schools require around 1000 hours). I used my STEP funding to take a State Tested Nurse Assistant (STNA) certification course. Becoming STNA certified allowed me to get a job as a home health aid, where I am earning the required patient care hours. The course was in Cleveland, Ohio and ran from May 6, 2019-May 17, 2019. The course included 75 hours of classroom instruction, and 16 hours of clinical experience at Shaker Gardens nursing home in Shaker Heights, Ohio. My budget for this project included the class and state fees, required apparel, gas, living expenses, and food. This project allowed me to gain the knowledge and certification required to start earning my patient-care hours.
2. • During my STEP signature project, I learned that when you focus on people other than yourself, you become a better person and a valuable part of society. Growing up in the “me too” generation, I have seen many people lack compassion and empathy. By learning how to care for other people, I have unlocked a part of my personality that I didn’t even know existed. I have found not only a passion but have also gained compassion for others. Now that my STEP project has ended, I have been able to get a job as a home health aid caring for the geriatric population.
   • Working with the elderly is more rewarding than I ever thought it would be. I have seen great people that just need a little help in their life, and I am lucky enough to be able to provide that help. Caring for the elderly requires patience, understanding, compassion, and positivity. Speaking candidly, I used to think that the elderly were a lifeless and boring population. Since my STEP project, that assumption has changed completely. I have gotten to know so many of my patients and truly enjoy caring for them. The personalities, wisdom, stories, compassion, etc. that the geriatric population has to offer is truly beautiful. I have learned so much since my STEP project, and am excited to continue this patient care for the rest of my life.
3. • The first relationship that really affected me during my STEP signature project is the instructor of my STNA course. We called her Brenda, and she truly made such an impact on me. Brenda is a Registered Nurse, and is truly passionate about teaching young men and women to care for other people as an STNA. She ran an amazing class, and taught us not only what the book had to say, but truly gave us the skills and motivation that we would need to care for other people. She made class truly enjoyable and learning the skills from her prepared me so well for performing them on a real patient. She taught me so much in our short two-week class, and I will never forget her. She will be a continuing inspiration as I continue my career in the medical field.
   • An experience that truly changed me was my STNA class’ clinical at Shaker Gardens Nursing Home. Shaker Gardens is a very underprivileged nursing home, to say the least. The floor we worked on was a floor for very critical patients (Alzheimer’s, Hospice, etc. ). There were probably around 30 patients, but they were so understaffed that there were only two or three STNA’s scheduled on the floor. They were so low on money that they had not been able to purchase an adequate amount of towels, gloves, etc. Having these terrible conditions was truly sad to see, but it was amazing to try to help as much as we could. The patients in this nursing home needed help, and they could not afford to move to a better home. Therefore, being able to help these people was truly humbling. I will never forget my experience there.
   • Another relationship that really affected me during my STEP signature project was my very first client. He has truly touched my life in a lot of ways. This particular client is very elderly and has a multitude of medical issues and diseases. Despite this, he is kind and hopeful. He genuinely wants to live and is so thankful to all that help him. Seeing someone be in such a hard position in life but show such kindness and positivity is truly inspiring. He has a hard time speaking, but I have been slowly getting to know him and finding out amazing things about his past. This was the first patient I cared for on my own, and it truly made me so excited about my future of patient-care oriented careers.
4. • The transformations that occurred through my STEP project really were valuable in my life. I truly did become a more compassionate, caring person through my STEP project. I have learned how to care for people, and why it is important. This has given me such motivation and optimism for my future. My future career is centered around caring for patients, and I know now that I will love doing that every day. I will also be able to employ this passion in my everyday life, by caring for my friends, family, and loved ones.
   • Finding new perspectives is so important for a healthy, fulfilling life. Every experience that I had throughout my STEP project has led to a whole new perspective on life. The people are one of them. Some of my classmates in the STNA class have overcome a lot of adversity, and are still working hard to find a good career. My teacher’s kindness and passion were utterly inspiring. The patient’s I saw through my clinicals and first few weeks at work have shown me the importance of my work andjust shown me so much about life in general. Overall, I have had an amazing experience during my STEP project, and I have been transformed forever.
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1. I spent 12 days in New Zealand and Australia through a trip put on by the OAC. During this time, we explored these countries via hikes, kayaking and boats. Throughout the duration of the trip, thought provoking leadership training was incorporated to allow us to come back to Campus with a new found understanding of ourselves.
2. My assumptions about what leadership is supposed to look like greatly changed as this trip progressed. Going in to it, I thought a leader had to be a strong and outgoing figure, and one that asserted themselves consistently to gain the respect of those they were trying to lead. Very quickly I found out that this was not the case, at all. By viewing the way others led, I soon realized that leadership could effectively be done without it being over bearing. Some lead by example, quietly. Some lead by reliability, by having the ability for their followers to see themselves in them. Some do still lead by their vocals, but not all. This was crucial for me to see as I was able to go back and internally reflect about my own personal leadership style and really evaluate if what I was doing was true to me. Additionally, my view of the world changed dramatically. While in Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, we spent a day kayaking around the lake and island hopping. During the trip, someone had asked the guide when we were going to get the chance to refill our waters, as they had drunk all of theirs. She replied by telling them to just fill it up in the lake, as this was fresh and the source of drinking water for the town. This blew my mind, as something like this would be a rare occurrence in the states, and specifically Ohio, as none of our water is that pure, most due to human interference. This really made me think about what else this world has to offer and how I need to make going out and seeing more things like this my top priority moving forward.

3. Throughout the duration of the trip, part of our leadership curriculum was to be LODS, which stands for Leaders of the Day. As a LOD, it was your job, as it says in the acronym, to lead the group for the day. This included everything from preparing food, setting departure times, setting meeting times and leading the group on hikes/excursions. The day that my turn came about, we found ourselves in the Doubtful sound, staying in a town whose population was 2. The night before, our trip guides came to brief us for the day ahead and had told us that we were going to oversee leading one of the toughest hikes of the trip. Needless to say, I was pretty nervous for the day ahead. I woke up in the morning apprehensive but excited to get the day started. We all ate breakfast, cleaned, and made our way to the start of the trail. Nearly two hours of ascent later, we had made it to the waterfall that we were intended to see, with no significant setbacks. Everyone ate lunch and talked about their struggles facing the near vertical hike. After about an hour, the descent started, and everyone made it back unharmed and full of adrenaline. I seemed to have succeed in my duties as LOD and made one of the hardest hikes seem the most fun. This day, although seemingly simple from the outside, was crucial in allowing me to reflect on who I was as a person as well as who I am as a leader. Before this moment, I have had leadership experience, but none that put me out of my own comfort zone all while having to push others. This had allowed me to really step back, focus on the experience and task at hand, and just allow myself to be vulnerable. Reflecting on this day has allowed me to learn more about myself than I could have ever expected in such a short amount of time. Some of these key take ways include understanding that I wont always have the answer, stepping out of your comfort zone with others can be liberating and that delegating tasks is okay and not a sign of weakness.

4. These learnings are going to significantly help me throughout the rest of my college career as well as in my professional career. One thing that I had previously struggled with in the past is doing things that challenge myself and my sense of comfort. I now know that the only way to achieve growth and to really learn more about yourself is to throw caution to the wind and do more things that give you discomfort. The term discomfort usually is followed by a negative connotation, but I have learned there is more to this. Discomfort could be the feeling of leaving your parents before boarding a flight to New Zealand. Discomfort could be meeting 21 new people that you have to spend every second of the next 24 days with. Discomfort could be standing on the edge of a ledge, about to bunji jump. Discomfort could be the minutes leading up to reaching the summit of a mountain, when your legs just want to give out. What I learned in all these moments though, is that immediately following discomfort is the greatest sense of feeling alive. Living my life, every day, following this ideology from this point forward is going to allow me to move and grow into the person I want to become

The trip to Wyatt Run Farm and Ecology Center and the surrounding areas was intended to teach about sustainable and regenerative agriculture. A special focus was given to how the soil quality of an area can have a huge impact on the quality of what grows in an area and how to improve the soil quality of an area.

Though the purpose of the project was primarily an academic one, of learning about the aims, methods, and results of regenerative agriculture, I came to understand a great deal about so much more than that while I was gone. The easiest change to talk about is my understanding of agriculture. Before I went on the trip, my understanding was the basic corn/soy rotation commonly used, bare fields in the off-season, and heavy usage of nitrogen or phosphorus based spray-on fertilizers. That image has shifted to the point where monoculture farms like the aforementioned conventional agriculture are almost an insult to me, as I now understand and know a couple of ways to grow more nutritious food that needs far less maintenance. Beyond my understanding of agriculture, I also grew far more open-minded as a result of the trip. I also found myself with a far greater appreciation of beauty and love of the natural world, even more so than my already great love and appreciation for the outdoors. The people at Wyatt Run also demonstrated great amounts of self sufficiency, which is now something I strive to emulate more in my own life. The project also opened lines of thinking I hadn’t thought about. While at the farm, I was able to allow myself to think about many aspects of my life I didn’t ever fully consider, and actually made a major life change as a result.

The experiences that lead to such great change weren’t very bombastic or dramatic events, but rather accumulated genuine experiences over time. For the agricultural side of things, simple classroom style discussion and question/answer type instruction served as a great springboard for additional learning and interest in the subject. Being able to move into the fields and look at the usage of cover crops to see how things were actually implemented, rather than just talking about them, was a great boost to my learning process. Walking into the forest on the property and learning what each plant is, what purpose it serves, and now being able to do the same in other places I go to was and is another extremely wonderful and transformational experience that helped me to see the beauty in even the smallest plants of the forest understory. Enjoying the fruits of labor from the farm in the form of meals was also a significant aid to learning, if only because it was concrete evidence that whatever methods of farming they were using were working to create fantastic food. The people of Wyatt Run showed us all that there is a way to lower one’s financial overhead and establish one’s self in a way that reduces dependence on the chaos of the world’s markets, politics, and so on. The example they set showed us that it’s possible to go back to the land, which I now hope I can do in the future.

Open-mindedness followed in the wake of seeing their success. It’s not as though I disbelieved that such a life was possible, but I didn’t really think it was possible for someone like me with the way the world is today. Seeing a younger couple on the property was really helpful for me to understand that it’s a very real possibility, and I don’t have to wait until I retire to live sustainably. Interacting with the other students, the residents, and Chris Ratcliff as the STEP advisor for the trip, was another fantastically mind-opening experience. Student-wise, we all came from very different backgrounds, both academically and socially. It was fascinating to hear about and see how everyone’s history affected their day to day actions, how they thought, how they worked with each other. I learned a lot about myself and about them through my discussions with them, and feel as though the people were really the largest factors that pushed me towards a transformational experience. While the education was great, it wouldn’t have meant a thin g if not for the contributions of the folks who live at Wyatt Run and the high quality people that went on the trip with me. I have fond memories of things we did on the trip, like an impromptu swim in Heart Pond at United Plant Savers, that I certainly won’t be forgetting any time soon, and those kind of memories wouldn’t have happened if not for having the right group.

The reflection sessions at the end of the day were a very key part of the transformational aspect of the project. I’ve never been one to sit and journal, as I generally lack the patience for it, but having a guided journal reflection and then being able to sit and discuss was very important and really helped me grow as a person and helped the group build camaraderie and “gel” better. Taking that time to think in a dedicated setting for it allowed me to consider thoughts I never let myself think about in my day to day life for any number of reasons. The combination of education, great people, and setting allowed me to clear my head of my immediate stressors and really think about what’s important to me and my goals.

With that being said, I made a major life change when I returned from Wyatt Run. Since I was in seventh grade I wanted to join the military. In high school, I decided I wanted to be a naval officer in the United States Navy. I was in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps for the last two years, and had earned a scholarship in late March of 2018. However, it’s been a constant uphill battle between working through the bureaucratic system to actually receive the scholarship and my own moral compass causing frequent feelings of doubt that I generally ignored. While at Wyatt Run and then again on the way home, I more strongly considered the possibility of leaving and living my own life; I felt as though I might have been holding on too strongly to a dream that I didn’t really want any more. When I got home, I dropped from ROTC so I could focus on my environmental engineering degree and working in that field, rather than postponing that part of my life until after a naval career. To be a little cheesy, when I was younger, I wanted to save the world. Now, I’ve realized I was trying to save the world in the wrong way.

My STEP Signature Project involved a week-long intensive workshop at Wyatt Run Farm and Ecology Center in Amesville, Ohio. Mark Cohen, the co-founder and co-director of Wyatt Run, guided a group of fellow OSU students and me through a week designed to cultivate skills in sustainable agriculture and holistic health. Within this week, we were introduced to the incredibly complex inner-workings and connections between cultural and biological diversity in communities, the context of today’s environmental challenges, and the health of living organisms and the natural processes of soil.

While completing my STEP Signature Project, many of my understandings of the world around us changed. I had never really enjoyed going out to the country or driving on the highway past fields of farmland. Growing up in an urban area, I was worried that many of my views would not align with those that take on a more rural lifestyle. Wyatt Run showed me that I was closing myself off to a world that may be the most important of them all. I have come to realize that it takes an immense amount of hard work and calculated intellect to be a farmer, and it is even more difficult in a society like today’s that holds polarized views towards agriculture. My week at Wyatt Run Farm helped to connect me with individuals who shared a love for life, and whether that meant a love for medicinal plants or even the rush of the city, it was a shared value that made me question some of my own.

Among the cultural gaps that Wyatt Run closed, it also transformed my understanding of many of the natural and societal systems that govern the world. As the world speeds up and technologies and societies advance, we are able to look closer and closer at how the world works. From modern medicine to crop production, society has been able to pinpoint exact issues and fix them, but this has allowed us to forget the bigger picture. While medicines are being tailored to pinpoint specific bacterial cells and fertilizers are being developed to increase the most important nutrients for crop production, we are neglecting the larger systems and the increasing effects that this narrow view has led us to. We have forgotten that every single thing is connected due to our continual attempts to treat our own self-inflicted side effects. My STEP Signature Project taught me that maintaining a holistic viewpoint can prevent many problems later on because you are looking at the whole system, rather than directing attention on component parts.

The interactions and relationships during my STEP Signature Project that led to the change in my views of rural lifestyles came from many of the local farmers and homesteaders that I met throughout the week. Jim and Charlotte, a couple who live on Wyatt Run, welcomed our group into their home and showed us how they have created a self-sustaining lifestyle through homesteading. They incorporated many vital components into their system, including a very biodiverse garden, solar panels, food storage, chicken raising, and many other parts. Along with showing us their incredible homestead, we had countless discussions about the way the world works, in which I realized that I shared similar values to a lot of people in agricultural communities.

Another activity that had transformed many of my views was the final two-day course our group took that covered the principles of biological systems. Although this course was less hands-on and more classroom-structured, it helped me to think about the new concepts I discovered during my week at Wyatt Run. The course, led by Dan Kittredge, an incredibly successful organic farmer, helped to fill in the gaps of knowledge that I had not fully gotten during the week. By having a better understanding of the interconnectedness of biological systems and how this affects the bigger picture, I had realized how important this holistic approach is. For example, Dan Kittredge told us about ancient societies that had the ability to tell if a plant is sick or is lacking a nutrient by just using their basic senses. This ability had been lost as society strayed from its holistic ways. Whether or not the ancient people having special abilities is true, it did make me wonder how far away society has actually strayed from its roots and disregarded such a major backbone of the urban societies we have today.

An additional activity that changed the way I view holistic systems was the many instances involving food. Having eaten locally-sourced and amazing meals all week, I was able to see the long and complex process that started from a seed in the ground that transformed into a nutrient-rich and healthy form of food. Food is medicine, so it is important that you be cautious about what you put in your body. The process that gets the food from the farm to the table is the most important and determines the nutrients that is in your food. In a similar way, farmers are like doctors, and if they neglect certain components of the system, they can end up doing more harm than good. This makes taking a holistic approach necessary for ensuring healthy people and an even healthier environment.

This transformation has been extraordinarily valuable for my life. I have already begun incorporating many of the practices I learned at Wyatt Run into my life, such as food preparation and at-home gardening and composting. I have also gained a wealth of knowledge that will help me immensely throughout academic and professional challenges that I may face in an environmental career. More importantly, my STEP Signature Project changed the way I see the world and the intricate connectedness I have with people I may have never even met before. This week allowed me to be more open to experiences and ideas that I thought may be too far away from me to grasp, and by immersing myself into a different lifestyle, I went through a transformation that made me want to be better for myself and for the state of the world around us.