Gisell portrait
  • Expedition: Sep 25-30, 2011
  • Gisell
  • Turlock and Pitman High Schools
  • Yosemite National Park

The challenges I face back home are challenges I can sometimes choose to give up on. This challenge of being up here in the mountains can’t compare. This is an actual challenge you can’t give up on. It pushes you and makes you stronger.

I think they chose to bring us here because it is a breathtaking experience. It can make you look at the world and other places how different it is and feels from living in the valley or a big city. Coming up here has challenged me a lot and made me think about lots of things I used to think were hard but looking back now I feel like it was something small.

This experience has changed my relationship with Earth by looking at how valuable the wilderness is. I want to conserve its beauty and breathtaking sights. When I go back home I’m going to do things to try and keep my community clean.

Being out here in nature has been such an amazing experience. I’ve challenged myself in mental and physical [ways]. This experience has showed me how important it is to keep nature green. The lessons I learned will follow me in my everyday life because when I look back on what I have done these four days of being our here, I will know I’m capable of doing things like challenging myself and know I can accomplish anything.

Gisell hikes past Cathedral
Gisell above Half Dome
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