Rustic Pathways Reflection

Rustic Pathways is an organization that provides high school students with opportunities to work on international service projects as well as allowing students to see their ability to change and impact more than their everyday world. The school I attend requires all sophomores and juniors to complete a 70-hour internship during the summer before junior and senior year as well as travel abroad once before graduation, so Rustic Pathways seemed perfect for killing two birds with one stone. But what initially started off as a school requirement turned into much more than that. I learned how to communicate despite language barriers, how to appreciate the small things in life like bus rides, and along the way managed to have the most fun I've ever had in my life. I may not have directly impacted Rustic Pathways, but I know for certain that I impacted the group I traveled with simply by being transparent, listening when needed and speaking up at the appropriate time(s).

This year has been a significant one for me …show more content…
I have struggled with self-confidence in areas that are either unfamiliar or that I struggle in, so learning some tips and tricks to either improve or mask my unsureness would be most helpful. Along with self-confidence, I would also like to improve where, when, and how much focus to put into certain tasks. Being sensitive has led me to fixate my attention on various trivial matters when my focus should be elsewhere. In relation to my sensitive nature, another quality that I want to improve upon is being stoic and impassive when needed. My emotional nature has led to issues in the past. Lastly, I would like to better my problem-solving abilities. Problem-solving is one of the most essential qualities in leadership, and learning how to think outside of the box and on my feet would be to my