I have had extensive experience in the outdoors, both in the wilderness and on the water. I began attending camp Kieve in Maine when I was 8 years old. Every summer at Kieve, we would take a wilderness trip, and these trips grew longer in duration each year. These canoe and backpacking trips are designed to progressively challenge campers while promoting Leave No Trace ethics. The trips grow increasingly difficult each year and challenge campers on many levels. As the years progressed, I found myself taking the role of a group leader; supporting and assisting my fellow campers who were struggling. The wilderness trips culminated in the summer of 2025 with a 200 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. Known officially as Maine Trails, this rigorous hike includes Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness, the most rugged and remote section of the trail in Maine. The trip tests your endurance and outdoor technical skills, and the daily schedule emphasizes team reliance and leadership development. The trek culminates in an ascent up Mount Katahdin.
Upon returning from Maine Trails, I attended The Island School in The Bahamas for the fall semester of my junior year. At the Island School, leadership is not viewed as a title, but as a response to real world problems. Character and leadership are created through active service and engagement with scientific research and the local community. During the semester, we took several kayaking trips that involved camping outdoors over multiple days. On those trips, I was able to assist other campers who were having difficulty at various stages of the trip. During the semester in the Bahamas, I trained every day for a four-mile swim, and completed that swim with my fellow team swimmers at the end of the semester. last year I also received my marine (boat) operator’s license.