Home Stretch

It is amazing to think that we are heading into the final week of the program. Throughout the past four weeks our students have heard from incredible speakers—an Apartheid expert, director of a major NGO, legendary SEC football coach, and a prisoner who served his sentence on Robben Island. They have visited incredible sites—the luscious vineyards of Franschoek, the breathtaking cliffs of the Cape of Good Hope, and the historic Robben Island. They have conquered many feats and faced incredible fears—hiking Table Mountain, bungee jumping, diving with Great White Sharks, exploring ancient caves, and coming face-to-face with lions, elephants, leopards, and even ostriches (those birds can be intense)! And they have given their heart and hands to the community of Sir Lowry’s Pass—recognizing that sometimes the best gift you can give is that of encouragement and love.

This past week I had the opportunity to join the Bafana Bafana’s on adventure week. Locals speak endlessly of the beauty of the Garden Route, and they are correct—it is amazing! But what I was truly in of awe was not the epic scenery, but the endless encouragement that students showered onto each other as they each pushed themselves to new limits. Adventure week is not about taking a week “off school,” it is a chance for each individual to lead themselves into new arenas of strength, to challenge themselves to preserve, and to open their eyes to their own powerful potential. When I returned to Cape Town, I was so excited to hear all the amazing stories from the Springboks and their time in Sir Lowry’s Pass. Embracing a community that is different from what you grew up in is its own adventure, and both our students and the families of Sir Lowry’s Pass did this so well. In addition, the group made huge progress on the school mural that will be ready to be revealed this Wednesday at our final day in the community!
This week we will focus on how we can take our experiences and leverage them when we get home—application is everything!
-Courtney Doran