Day 14: Final Reflections

Reflections of these past two weeks            

Upon my return to El Paso, I still have a lot of work to do. The Gila still needs to be planned, O’Rourke still needs to be thanked, and my parents still have to be appreciated. But the lessons and the new parts of my character I learned and developed over the course of these two weeks gave me a new perspective on these actions. These aren’t just things to be done and forgotten, they are experiences worth committing to, worth that extra mile and that spring in my step, worth the experience they have given me in shaping myself, others, and the world. I have to thank all of the friends I’ve made and people I have met to realize that the effort was worth it.

Submitted by Daven Cheu

  

I entered this program as a shy and nervous person, unsure of what was going to happen in the next two weeks. I felt I would be unable to complete some of the tasks scheduled, such as conducting research on an official vessel or talking to a congressperson. However, as the days progressed, I learned so many important lessons that will benefit me throughout my life. One of the most important lessons I learned was commitment. I entered thinking that I would only need to stay committed to the academic work, such as writing papers and taking class notes, but it never really occurred to me that I’d need to be committed to the group as well. At first, it seemed a bit uncomfortable to be stuck in a small group with a bunch of strangers, but after a few days, the fear and tension seemed to melt away.

I also learned the benefits of collaboration and working towards a common goal, and how much everybody can gain if we all invest time and effort to the group. I was scared to step outside my comfort zone by doing things such as writing the issue paper or the congressional meeting because I’ve never done any of these things by myself. However, the group had each other’s backs in all of the meetings, and the RAs and instructors were always there for anything I could possibly need help with. After completing the meetings, I realized how much of a difference we can make. I used to think that it was only politicians who had the power to make change in government, but I learned that citizens can make just as much of a difference through hard work, research, and passion. Finally, I learned that I’m still learning.

I did things I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do because I had the chance to work with and learn from others. Working closely with this group has taught me that change and growth are necessary (and sometimes challenging) parts of life. Overall, these past two weeks have been some of the most educational, exciting, and memorable experiences I’ve ever had.

Submitted by Jen-Li Barry

 

 

Highlights for this program for me were the day on the research vessel, the day that we flew to Washington, and the night time Trolley tour of the monuments. On the research vessel, we collected samples of the water to see the pH and to see the amount of minerals every so many meters. I also steered the ship and that was one of the highlights for that day.

 

Another one of my favorite things from this trip was the day we flew to Washington for two simple reasons, it was my first time on a plane, and I lost my luggage. Well, my luggage wasn’t really lost, it got there before me. Sure made my day go from a 10 to a zero and back to a 10! Seeing the monuments and seeing them at night was awesome. Besides our driver MJ, was informative, attentive and entertaining.

Submitted by Juan Martinez

I came into the GELS program unsure of what to expect in the next two weeks. Who could blame me? I would be thousands of miles away from home, and participating in a environmental and leadership program having limited knowledge on both topics. Little did I know that during these two weeks, I would learn a lot about not just the environment and politics, but about myself and my peers. Throughout these two weeks, we participated in various activities, ranging from icebreaker games to 8 hour research vessel rides. As different as these activities were, they all encompassed the seven C’s, which we learned were the components of the social leadership model of change. For example, by meeting with our congressional staff members or representatives, we expressed citizenship. All my peers and I worked towards a common goal, which was to have our representatives take action to address our respective environmental issues. Although I was nervous about meeting someone possessing such a high position of authority, I was committed to making a positive change in my community, so I fought down the urge to run away from my meeting, and followed through with what I signed up for. After the GELS program ends, I hope to be able to incorporate these values into my everyday life as well. Whether it be in my interactions with my family, to encouraging my school's student body to incorporate eco-friendly changes into their lifestyles. The GELS program has offered me insight on the environment and leadership that I would never receive from any other person or program I attend.

Submitted by Annie Yu