I went through my 200 hour national Yoga Teacher Training certification with Colleen McFall aand the Columbus School of Yoga. The certification focused on teaching me to focus on the 8 limbs of yoga within a class and life context.
When I had started my yoga teacher training, I understood that there were other aspects of yoga, but never practiced them. I have a greater awareness of myself, my values and of others around me. Most of this awareness comes from an awareness of my mind and energy. When I encounter a trigger, I understand that there is usually chaos in my life, and there must be an acknowledgement of the problem and movement forward before the chaos disappears. Knowing myself better also helps me know other people better. Even though I may not be able to relate exactly to other people’s experiences, everything has a life cycle, and if I am able to help or offer support during that cycle, I can offer value to others. I have also begun to practice the yamas and niyamas of yoga. These are like the ten commandments for yoga: values to live by to live a balanced life.
One of the most powerful relationships that I cultivated was with my teacher. Honestly, I am so blessed by meeting her, she has been so helpful in getting me gigs as a new yoga instructor and has been amazing about being transparent with her knowledge. She helped me navigate through so many difficult situations and resolve them.
Colleen was instrumental in getting my first and second jobs as an independent contractor. She was also instrumental in negotiating my second contract. Beyond just he knowledge of yoga, she has helped me tremendously in navigating the business of yoga.
Colleen has also passed down her philosophy of yoga: safety and accessibility. I’ve learned the power of yoga, and not just the physical practice, but also the practice of breath and meditation. I have gained so much from these practices in my personal life. I feel less stressed, in control, and more productive. These practices are something that I want to bring to EVERYONE, not just the typical yoga studio attender.
Currently yoga is going to be a daily practice as well as a source of income. In the future, I will continue to have a personal practice, but as far as teaching goes, I would like to continue, but I’m not quite sure what the future holds for me. The personal practice that I have cultivated has crafted me into the person that I am today. I don’t see that practice ending anytime soon because of the benefits that I have already seen from the practice. I have more balance in my life, I feel less stressed, I have more confidence in myself. I also have realized the power of my body – I used not even be able to hold myself in a side plank for 15 seconds – now I can hold myself there for more than three minutes.
Teaching yoga is still something that I am exploring. I am enjoying it so far, but I’m only about 6 months into that experience. Ideally, I would like to continue teaching, but we’ll see. I like to live in the present and not really worry too much about the future. What will come will come, and my hard work now will lead me to a space where I need to be.

For my STEP signature project I attended a bioarchaeological field school which involved excavating human remains from a cholera cemetery which was in use from around 1804-1860. This field school took place in the Columbus area and focused heavily on teaching excavation techniques necessary to working in the field. By attending this field school I not only gained experience but forged meaningful connection to my peers and professionals in the field.

As I have attended classes I have always assumed that field work was the end goal of my degree in anthropology but through my experience at field school I have learned that that may not necessarily be the case for me. Although I found working in the field fascinating I also learned from experienced professionals the various routes in which an anthropology degree could take me. Field work is extremely exhausting and involves long hours of hard work and although I did not mind the four weeks I spent in the field I have a feeling that any longer would be too much for me. Because of my STEP signature project I have been able to gain some insight into the realities of field work, something which cannot be learned in a classroom. The work in the field also opened my eyes to different world views because I was surrounded by many people who were very different than me in some ways but the same in others. Gaining new perspectives opened up my mind and allowed me to think about anthropological concepts and the meaning of life in a completely new way.

There are several events and interactions which occurred which allowed me to learn more about myself and helped me to transform my ideals and plans for my future. To start I was working closely with people who were very different than I. It seemed as though that everyone I met in the field came from different walks of life but we are all united by our odd love of archaeology. I made many friends who I became instantly close with. While spending many hours with one another we were able to discuss the meaning behind the work we were doing and the various paths of life we each wanted to take. Being able to bounce ideas off of people who were so different yet so similar to yourself was refreshing. It made me realize my purpose in life and the field I wanted to pursue. Talking to others also presented me new opportunities which I was unaware of before. For example a few of my friends from the dig and I are planning on volunteering at a primate sanctuary near campus, an opportunity I would have never had if I did not attend field school.

My interactions were not the only thing that was transformational about my experience on the dig. There were also many events which shaped my transforming process. For example I was faced with many challenges, physical, emotional, and mental. The first grave I was assigned to excavate ended up being empty, a disappointment I was not prepared for. For the two weeks prior to the excavation of the individual graves each of us was required to put in hour of had labor. Excavating an individual grave was promised to be the fruit of our labor and was the part of the field school we were all there for. After putting in countless hours of work finding nothing in the grave I was assigned was disappointing for sure. I felt as though I had wasted my time and had gained no reward for my hard work. After some sulking I realized that I could not let this upset affect the rest of my experience. Instead of giving up I asked to be assigned another grave and worked laboriously in recovering a full skeleton. This experience taught me that hard work doesn’t always pay off right away and transformed my way of thinking about work in the field. I now know that being in the field can lead to disappointment but you mustn’t let that slow you down as you never know what is around the corner.

Finally working and observing professionals in my field transformed the way I thought about careers in anthropology. Learning next to those who had large amounts of experience taught me ways of doing things and excavating which can not be shown in a classroom. Each site has different little techniques of excavation which differ. Each person on sight has different experiences and can teach you different things. All of this didn’t just teach me useful skills it also taught me to have an open mind to all ideas and all experiences. I was able to transform from someone who had no experience in the field to someone who felt comfortable excavating and was able to ask questions when need be. I became less afraid of the future and more open to change and what the future can offer me.

All of these interactions and events came together to transform me into someone who is ready to take life by the horns. I have a better grip on my future plans and an open mind to the thoughts and ideas of others. This is all very important for having a career in anthropology. Anthropologists constantly works with people who are different than them, being open to these differences is what makes a good anthropologist. I also am now better equipped to decide where I go after all of this is over. I have always thought that working in the field was it for me but after field school I am considering other options such as museum or lab work. This experience has transformed my outlook on life and made me a more accepting person. I now feel as though I can make important decisions in deciding where I want my life to take me.

My STEP signature project was a 25-day outdoor adventure trip to Australia and New Zealand where our group immersed ourselves in the culture by travelling to many cities and towns, and striking a balance between adventure and leadership. Each of us had the opportunity to function as a leader for one day, where that person would coordinate group activities. Our group participated in many fun outdoor activities such as, hiking, mountain biking, sky diving, bungee jumping, white water rafting, and more.

This trip to Australia and New Zealand significantly changed my perspective of myself and the world. I have been to other countries before, but nothing came close to how beautiful and pristine these countries are. We had many encounters with nature and saw things you would normally only see on National Geographic TV. In Australia, we went snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and I saw many colorful fish and a sea turtle. Also, I got to see a spider the size of my palm, which was frightening, but also eye-opening! At the Cairns zoo, we saw so many animals that are unique to Australia and I had the opportunity to hold a koala bear. I have realized our world is so beautiful and we need to do whatever it takes to protect and preserve this beauty. We need to ensure these beautiful creatures are there for future generations to come.

The second half of our trip was in New Zealand. We flew from Sydney, Australia to Queenstown, New Zealand and then traveled via bus to the south end of the island. It was winter time there and it was snowing. It was quite an interesting experience since it was May and supposed to be summer in United States. We visited the Fiordland National Park in the southern part of New Zealand. This place is like no man’s land. There were no one there except us. The air is so crisp and clear. We looked at the night sky and saw billions of stars because of the lack of light pollution. We then traveled north and did many nature exploration activities. We kayaked in Lake Wanaka, the clearest lake I have ever seen. The natural beauty in New Zealand was unmatched. I never knew that places like this still existed on earth. The world I am living in is filled with people, vehicles and buildings, which means noise and light pollution are part of our daily life. I never knew a place that is so pure, so untouched still exists in the other side of the earth. This trip transformed me into a strong advocate for nature and environmental conservation.

The leadership development part of the experience was transformational as well. I consider myself to be more of an introvert. I usually prefer for someone else to take the lead role and I follow along. I consider this a weakness of mine that needs improvement. However, this trip changed that for me. I had the chance to lead our group on a twelve-mile hike through the blue mountains. I was in charge of navigating the trails on the hike, stopping the group to eat lunch and take snack/water breaks, and making sure our group made it back to the hostel on time. This brought me to the realization that EVERYONE has the potential to become a leader, and people will respect and trust you even if you think otherwise. This idea really boosted my self-confidence. I am assured that I have what it takes to hold a leadership role, which is one of the biggest lessons I learned from this trip.

This Australia and New Zealand adventure was life changing for me. It made me realize how beautiful our world is amongst wildlife and nature. This transformed my view on environmental and nature conservation. My understanding of the global harm of littering and pollution has grown. I am glad I am more aware of the environmental problems we face in our country so I can advocate for a change. I have become a much stronger leader because of this trip. I will use the leadership skills learned from this trip for my entire future. Going into a pharmaceutical profession, I am required to understand how to deal with patients and medical staff and serve the community as a leader. My understanding of the world and myself have definitely changed for the better as a result of this trip. I feel so fortunate to be able to travel half the globe with such an amazing group of people and witness the beautiful scenery of Australia and New Zealand.

1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. 

The Leadership Expedition to New Zealand and Australia was based off of adventure and self-growth. We spent two weeks in New Zealand and two weeks in Australia, hiking daily and indulging in adventures including scuba diving, sky diving, horseback riding, bungee jumping, white water and so much more. The best part of the trip was making dinner every night, sharing our stories from the day and becoming so close the fellow students on the trip, these friendships will last a lifetime.

2. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? 

This past month I really grew a lot personally and discovered a lot about myself. I genuinely feel like I grew a lot as a leader and learned how to highlight the best parts of myself and my leadership style. Every day on the trip we had a leader of the day. The goal of leader of the day was to plan out the schedule, activities, and meals for the day for the entire group. Each night the group would give feedback and observations as to how they were for the leader of the day. My experience as leader of the day was very good and a large learning experience for me, it was on the day of our longest hike on the trip. We hiked 15 miles through the Blue Mountains of Australia. It was hot out and raining, spirit was low, however, I feel the energy I brought to the group helped get through the day.

After feedback after dinner, I learned a lot about myself that I will use moving forward. I learned that my strength in leadership is rooted in individual relationships with other people. I think based off these relationships I had built with the group members, they all trusted me, which helped both them and I as I guided us through a very challenging hike. I will definitely take this knowledge forward and constantly work on establishing and maintaining these valuable relationships with others around me.

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? 

I definitely value the relationships that I established overseas this past month. There were 20 students total on this expedition and I can honestly say I make a great connection with all of them. There is something different about traveling with people that bonds you so quickly. Every day we experienced a once in a lifetime opportunity. We covered so much ground in just one month and were constantly together, exploring the other side of the world. It really bonded us with an experience that can never be recreated. I made such great friends on this trip and still a month later we talk every day and talk consistently.

Backpacking is a very strange culture. Everything you live on, food, clothing, toiletries are on your back. You are responsible for yourself and your own needs. You can’t ask others to carry your things when you get tired as they have their own gear. Yet somehow backpacking is such a communalistic culture, everyone constantly cares for one another. On this trip other students were constantly checking n and asking what they could do for m, and I reciprocated. We elevated each other to be our best selves and to make the most of the trip, as it was truly once in a life time.

I really learned to trust others on this trip as well, being able to establish a relationship where others can trust you. While on the trip we navigated trains very much “off the map”. We had no access to technology, all we had was a map. As leader of the day I guided us through the Australian wilderness. I think being at the front of the group and guiding us people trusted me, so when it began to rain, and feet began to hurt, they pushed through when I assured them we were close, and they could do it. I remember vividly, a girl named Hannah hurt her hip on the trip. To relieve the pain I. distributed her things amongst 5 others to carry the weight. Actions like these built the foundations our relationships were built on. I was able to trust me, and I trusted others, which allowed me to be a better leader, when everyone bought in.

I have not always been the most confident person in my abilities and my leadership. However, everyone’s assurance and constant feedback allowed me to become much more confident in myself. I defiantly grew as a person and feel I can accomplish more now than any point prior in my life, I owe this all to the trip and the relationships I have built.

4. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? 

If nothing else, this trip helped me not only gain mass amounts of leadership experience, but showed me the true kind of leader I am. That kind of experience really has no price tag and I will be forever grateful. Not only did I gain this experience of leadership, but I gained a value of the outdoors and conservation.

Being outside in national parks in both New Zealand and Australia I really started to understand the culture of these two great countries. They value their natural environment and landscape so much more than any other place I have been. In that part of the world they promote conservation practices into their everyday lives. They have outlawed plastic bags at grocery stores, and plastic straws. Small efforts like this really have made a difference. I have finally understood the value of the natural world and now feel responsible to defend it. As a biology major, I have already began looking into internships next year in conservation.

I loved these two countries so much and feel so blessed to see new parts of the world and enjoyed diving into the local culture. I have already begun the process to apply for a work visa in Australia. My goal is to go back next summer for an internship to work on the Great Barrier Reef, a site we visited, to aid the local university’s efforts in preserving this natural wonder. This trip truly changed my life, as wherever life takes me, I know I will be involved in preserving the natural landscape.

I did my step project with the Ohio State Outdoor Adventure Center. We had weeks of planned outdoor activities in both Australia and New Zealand including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, skydiving, and even more. We also developed our leadership abilities each day by having a new group of students lead the activity of the day as well as help organize for dinner, clean up, and whatever else the day entailed.

                The biggest thing I took away from this trip is that if you are comfortable with who you are as a person, it will make everything else around you easier. When you’re travelling, hiking, eating, and sleeping with the same 20 people every day for a month it forces you to get out of your comfort zone. You can’t just sit on your phone all day or sit away in your own room, and this forced interaction is a part of what makes this trip so special. When I spent that much time around people it meant my personality was going to come out, and I’d be better off really putting myself out there than not. This environment really spread to everyone on the trip, and it’s what made our group become so close-knit. The level of comfort we had made everything go smoother, and specifically it made our leadership days much easier. When you’re comfortable and confident, leading becomes easier because everyone else listens and offers any help when needed. The most important thing that I learned on this trip was that I had to first get out of my comfort zone to force myself to be OK with uncomfortable situations, and that pushing yourself in this way is a great way to grow as a person.

                As I said before, I found the best way to grow was to force myself out of my own comfort zone as much as possible. One of the ways we did this was through all of our outdoor activities. I’d tried things I’d never have done in the US like skydiving, catapulting, 10 mile hikes, and more. The supportive group of people we had with us was encouraging and helped everyone overcome any fear or apprehension one might feel before doing any of those activities. The fact that we are the only Ohio State group ever to have every person on the trip go skydiving I think attests to that. We were each pulling each other up and trying to help everyone accomplish as much as possible in the short time we had.

                Another part of the bonding we had as a group were all of the weird outlandish conversations we shared whenever we could. On the bus ride from Sydney to Katoomba we each shared different stories about our time at Ohio State. After a hike in Sydney we had heated discussions over some ridiculous Would You Rather’s, discussing the logistics and consequences of each possibility in depth. On a ride to our ferry we discussed the consciousness of butterflies and how their memory works. These little conversations don’t just entertain us during times of boredom, but served as stepping stones. Each conversation pushes the boundaries a little more, and adds builds up the trust between everyone on the trip.

                This final specific experience really represents what the whole trip meant to me. It was towards the end of the trip and we were in New Zealand. We were moving from one hostel to another, and on our bus ride we’d been stopping and taking little hikes on paths along the sides of the road. At one path we came out by a stream of running water which looked freezing cold. All of sudden our guides, Tim and Marrios were running towards the freezing cold water. They dove in head first, and then resurfaced and walked out, grabbed a towel and dried off. It looked like they were freezing. They kept egging us on to go into the water and a few people went in and when they emerged also tried to get everyone else in on the fun. I kept thinking along the lines of “I don’t have a change of clothes” and “I don’t have a towel” and making excuses for myself not to do it. Then I realized that this trip wasn’t about thinking everything all the way through and doing what you’re comfortable with. I stopped thinking and instead starting acting. I took off some layers of clothes and quickly sprinted towards the water before I had a chance to change my mind. I dove into the icy water and once I was all the way in I turned around and sprinted out. This seems like a small moment on a trip filled with adventure, but it was all about learning to not overthink and sometimes act on impulse, and to become comfortable with the uncomfortable.

                This change is significant in my life because it will affect me every day. Learning to be more outgoing and confident is something that will change how I interact with my friends, family, coworkers, professors, TAs, and basically anyone else in life. And learning to push myself harder will help me accomplish any academic or professional goals I set for myself. Overall this trip taught me a lot about myself and what I can do to try to improve myself as a person, and how to build on top of all the things I learned while I was on this trip.

The trip I took for my STEP signature project entailed an adventure-filled 25 days between Australia and New Zealand. Our group of 22 traveled to several cities and towns within each country and explored through outdoor adventures such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. We were able to learn more about our leadership skills through each of us taking charge for a day as the group’s leader.

The major transformation I uncovered while on this trip was about the way we interact with the natural world in America compared to overseas. No matter where we traveled, environmental protection and conservation were one of the first things we were introduced to. Whether it be the group leader at a lodge in Arthur’s Pass NZ who stressed the importance of recycling, compost and creating as little food waste as possible or one of the front desk workers at the Sydney, AUS hostel who pushed for short showers; it seemed that every citizen was aware and actively fighting climate change. This is something that you will rarely see or hear about just on the streets in America. This transformation was amazing, yet jarring because of the inaction and irresponsibility in America. This makes me want to push even harder toward my own efforts of conserving the natural world back home.

I usually have a pretty dismal view of the world and feel generally hopeless about the state of the planet solely because of the lack of care and responsibility of the Western world. This mindset often times leaves me and my efforts feeling pointless. These are some of the ideas I shared with our in-country travel guide, Marios. No matter how I was feeling on the trip, I could confide in him and he could talk me out of the hopeless feeling about the planet. He explained his lifestyle and beliefs and truly opened my eyes to the countries in the world who are making a difference for climate change. His connection to the natural world changed my viewpoint entirely and transformed my ideas.

While in New Zealand, we were lucky enough to travel to the Doubtful Sound which is located in the Fiordland Nation Park. Our accommodation was a lodge in a town with a population of 2. In order to get there, we had to take a 35-minute bus ride and a 45-minute boat ride. It was amazing to be so secluded with nature for those days. As we left, however, we had to take along with us all of our trash we had made because of how secluded the area was. The bags and bags we carried (from 2 nights!) was unbeleievable. It was so eye-opening to see how much waste the group could crerat in such a short time. This was transformational to me because I saw my impact and had to deal with it. If more people truly had to see and deal with their waste, they would begin to understand the horrible effects of our single-use plastic waste.

One of our final days in Cairns, Australia we had the absolute privilege of getting to snorkel in the great barrier reef. It was so amazing to see all of the marine life in their natural habitat. While I expected this execution to be upsetting because of how much the coral has been bleached, the tour guide, Aly was actually telling us about the coral regeneration. She was giving us the hope that the reef was able to heal and rebound. This made me so hopeful for the future of the planet and the ecosystems of the world. I always thought that I had to see the reef now before it was gone, but it may just be around longer than I thought.

I plan on going into a field that has to do with environmental conservation and protection someday. This trip could not have been better for my future plans in the field because I feel like I have so much more leadership capabilities and perspectives to share with others. This has turned my pessimism around in some ways into hope for the planet’s future. I will be able to use the leadership lessons from the trip in my Public Affair’s classes in trying to understand groups of people being led and collective bargaining. This trip has truly opened my eyes and changed my world view.

For my STEP Project, I decided to go on an adventure to Australia and New Zealand, something I have always dreamed of. The trip consisted of a variety of unimaginable activities ranging from 15-mile  hikes to sky diving, white water rafting, mountain biking, sea kayaking, and much more. The aim of this trip was to be able to build upon our leadership styles. 

Before going on this trip, I followed a relatively simplistic lifestyle that consisted of a routine that wasn’t dramatically different from the rest of societies. I thought there was a certain pathway you’d have to follow and certain activities that must be repeated daily with little to no variation. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this, I questioned my lifestyle and wanted to switch it up. After this trip, I realized just how differently people can live in their daily lives in comparison to my own, opening my own lifestyle to new ideas (one of which is how much more environmentally friendly I can be by changing a few small aspects in my life). In addition, I gained a sense of appreciation for how much stronger, physically and mentally, I am than I initially perceived myself to be which encourages me to take more risks in every aspect of my life. 

One of the main transformational experiences I had throughout the trip was the wide variety of activities I thought I’d never partake in or have the courage to even attempt. In particular, one circumstance was skydiving where I had to mentally prepare myself to drop out of a plane over 15,000 feet above sea level. Surprisingly, I cooperated well and had a way better time than I would have expected. Keeping this in mind, I decided to change my mindset for the rest of my life. Whenever I feel scared, nervous, or anxious, I convince myself that I’m excited (even if I’m not) and do whatever I’m about to do by counting down from 3. This allowed me to do a variety of other things like snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef (even though I’m terrified of sharks), getting kicked off a chair in a canyon swing, and white-water raft in the rapids. I can say for certain I came out of this trip with much more bravery than I initially had. 

Another aspect of this trip that I never realized that I would gain would be the new relationships I have created. While I can at times be quite extraverted, most of the times I am naturally introverted and keep to myself. This trip has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and force me to interact with 21 other people for 25 days! As a result, I have had the unique opportunity to make 21 new friends that I probably wouldn’t have met if I never went on this trip before. Now, I’m not saying that in order to make new friends I HAD to go on this trip. I’m just saying that this trip allowed me to keep a more open mindset and allowed me to make relationships with people who have interests different from my own. I also was able to build a personal relationship between the tour guides on our trip, particularly in New Zealand. Tim and Marios taught me the importance of living in the moment and not consistently stressing about the future or past. In addition, they showed me how important it is to care for the environment and how simple it can be- like recycling materials properly, not running the tap water for dishes, and taking quick showers.

In addition, my mental and physical strength were certainly challenged at times when we went hiking. One moment that sticks out the most was when we went to the Blue Mountains in Australia for a 15-mile hike. The journey took the whole day where we only had a few brief moments throughout the day to rest our legs and brace ourselves for the rest of the hike. At first, it was hard to stay positive when my legs were aching consistently and seeing how exhausted the rest of the group was certainly didn’t help. But throughout the hike, we supported one another and didn’t let anyone in our group fall behind, which was quite encouraging. The views also gave me some motivation to keep trekking forward and get to the end. 

Prior to the trip, we were given the task of researching two leadership styles and had an in-depth discussion about the pros and cons to each style situations. Each person in our group had the opportunity to become the Leader Of the Day (LOD) and lead the group on whatever activities we were engaging in for the day. Eventually, my time came, and I was able to learn the value of communication and the variety of ways to get my message across to the rest of the group. I also had to be more attentive to my own actions, ensure I was positive throughout the day, and motivate the rest of my peers to stay strong and consistent. At the end of the day, we received feedback on the leadership style we chose to engage in. As a result, I was able to quickly learn a variety of new leadership styles and understand which approaches had the best result for specific situations.

Overall, this trip has really allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and push myself physically and mentally- something I wouldn’t have done in the past. The leadership skills, bravery, and curiosity  I have gained have prepared me for the rest of my undergraduate career as a Health Science’s major with a track in medicine. The new and unique interactions I have had with my diverse peers has allowed me to become even more extraverted than before and not neglect a friendship even if someone has a different personality or taste from my own. I am truly grateful for the unique opportunity that STEP has allowed me to take advantage of and my new friends. 

My STEP Signature Project brought me across the world to New Zealand and Australia. This twenty-five-day trip consisted of many adventurous activities such as hiking, sea kayaking, mountain biking, surfing, white water rafting, and much more. This trip intertwined leadership theory and adventure to help us discover our style of leadership.

While abroad, I learned so much about my leadership style and experienced lots of personal growth through challenging activities and new friendships. Through leading my peers and observing how other students lead my peers and myself, I was able to realize that being a strong leader does not always mean being the most outspoken person in the room. My peers and leaders gave me great feedback about the way I lead others and I am excited to be able to continue to grow as a leader in the future as I embark on new journeys in the states. This trip made a huge positive impact on my life and I will cherish the memories that I made on this trip for the rest of my life.

During this trip, two people were assigned as “leader of the day” to help guide us through the activities we would be doing that day. I was able to learn lots about different leadership styles from just observing how my leaders of the day choose to lead the group. Many of the other students on my trip were phenomenal leaders already and I gained so much from watching them lead us in a small group setting. Some choose to be vocal and make sure information was given very clearly, while others stepped up only when information was necessary and led from the background to give the group the opportunity to experience the day how they pleased. I was able to take away that some of my favorite days were on ones where the group leaders took a step back and only interjected when information was needed to get across to everyone.

During the trip, we were given the opportunity to sit and reflect daily and it has helped shape the way I go about life. I have always been one to rush things and I live life at a very fast pace. Before this trip, I was under the impression that slowing things down had no benefits to myself and I did not take the time to appreciate the beauty around us. The time for reflection during our five minutes of silence every day helped me discover that taking a few minutes to breathe and reassess are very valuable. The five minutes of silence we were given every day were some of my favorite moments during the trip. Being able to just sit in my thoughts and observe the beautiful scenery and sounds around me are some of the memories I hold very close from this trip. In the future, I will continue to make sure I at least take a few minutes per day to take a step back from the craziness each day brings to appreciate the nature around me.

I am confident that the friendships I gained with all 22 of the amazing people on this trip will continue to transform my experience at Ohio State. Each and every one of these individuals brought so much joy to every day and helped me through the challenging days that arose during the trip. These people helped bring back my passion for exploring and I hope that I can continue to travel and experience all of the incredible places in the world. As I approach the start of my junior year at Ohio State, I have become even more excited to return in the fall to see all of the friends that I made and I cannot wait to continue to make more memories with these people.

This transformation is significant for my life because it has changed the way I go about things every day. Taking time for myself, whether it is just a few minutes, has improved my overall happiness and has taught me to appreciate the little things around me more often. This trip has made me understand the beauty of this planet and has sparked my urge to travel and experience everything I can. This trip pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me so many valuable lessons. I am so grateful for the time I got to spend in these breath taking countries and I look forward to going back someday!

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 Signature Project, I went on the OAC trip to Australia and New Zealand. This month-long trip allowed us to explore the wildlife and culture of these two countries as well as assess and develop our own leadership skills.

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.

            The first change that I recognized during this experience was in myself. I went across the world with 20 other complete strangers. Before the trip I was very nervous about this because new relationships generally take me awhile to jump into. However, I was surprised by my ability to form quick but strong relationships with the other people on this trip. I pushed myself way out of my comfort zone and the result was fun and lasting relationships.

            The second change I noticed was my appreciation for the environment. I have always loved nature and being outside, but I never really considered how my day-day actions impact the environment. The landscapes and environment in Australia and New Zealand are breath-taking, but everyone in these countries (including their government) are very environmentally-conscious in all of their actions. Seeing this way of life and the results it has on the environment has motivated me to change certain things about how I act and treat this planet. While my back yard is not nearly as beautiful as the glaciers of New Zealand or Bondi Beach, I am still able to appreciate it and see the beauty that is worth saving.

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.

            At the beginning of the trip not many people knew each other and most of us found ourselves in a spot outside of our comfort zone. With similar feelings of discomfort and traveling a very far away from home, we were forced to get familiar with each other in a short amount of time. This unique environment led us to form unique relationships.

            Additionally, the trip had a leadership development component. Almost every day there was a set of leaders who would guide the group in the day’s activities. Leaders would be in charge of the group’s transportation, meals, activities and general organizational tasks throughout the day. Both leading my peers and being led by them allowed another component to relationship building. Not only did I have the chance to learn about myself in a leadership position and receive feedback from my peers, I got to experience everyone else in a leadership position.  

            This trip also resulted in a change in my attitude towards the environment. Many of the activities that we did allowed us to fully experience the breath-taking terrain and environment of these two countries.  From hiking in the Blue Mountains, to kayaking in Lake Wanaka, to snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef we were really exposed to the majesty of the natural life in Australia and New Zealand. This awesome exposure coupled with the local attitude and concern for nature really forced us to appreciate and reflect on our own behavior towards the environment.

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.

            I was interested in this trip because I saw it as an opportunity to grow as a person. I wanted to learn about and experience these countries but I also to push myself. These changes allowed me to gather a better understanding about myself and the world around me which I believe helps me personally but also professionally. An amazing experience like this will give me a number of lessons and moments to draw from in my future career and life in general. I thoroughly believe that college is a time to explore the world but also yourself, and this trip allowed me to do so.