"My Retreat
Experience "
My Trip-Trailblazers Retreat Weekend
Should I stay or should I go? The bus is there, the doors are
open, and my bags are packed, but as I look in the corner of my
eye, my mom is there, ready to turn around and go home if I decide
not to leave.
Today I am here to tell you about my experience of a lifetime.
As I step aboard and wave goodbye, I am still wondering whether
I am making the right decision or not. There are a bunch of people
who I have never met and don’t know anything about. What
will they be like? Will they look and stare? Will they ignore me
completely? Will they be rude and ignorant? Or will they be kind
and generous like a good old friend?
I was sitting alone while starting to regret getting on the bus
at all, until Dave came up to me and asked if the seat beside me
was taken. I told him that it wasn’t, so he sat down.
The bus ride didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it would
have. Dave and I talked the whole ride there, so I forgot all about
being shy, nervous, and worried.
Finally we arrived. We started off with a few name games to get
to know a bit about everyone. The goal of the games turned out
great because heading into the first night, we all new a little
bit about each person.
The next day we had our first discussion group. This group was
meant to talk about why we were all meeting over this 4 day trip.
Donna was first to break the silence. She told us that she worked
for the organization “AboutFace” and that “AboutFace” was
meant to help children, teens, and even adults deal and get to
know themselves and others with a facial difference. The point
of this trip was to help the teens feel more comfortable to talk
about their facial difference, self esteem, or anything else that
they wanted to share with people other than their closest friends
and family.
When people started asking questions to the staff or the other
teens, it made me feel that I didn’t have to be shy or scared
if I wanted to talk. This also made me feel that I truly had made
the right decision on stepping on the bus and coming on this trip.
Throughout the next few days, there was high ropes, low ropes,
rock climbing, archery, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. Each
one of these games or activities was to help build self-esteem
according to the goal that you made for yourself. The goal wasn’t
to say “Hey, that person made it up the whole wall, I can
too.” It was meant for you to see how much you think you
could accomplish, and then really see how much you accomplished.
It didn’t matter if your goal was to finish the whole activity,
or just to start it. The goal was geared to your own standards,
so if you didn’t reach it, it was ok, because at least the
opportunity was there.
Within the three days we were at the camp, it was nice not to
hear a bad remark about anything or anybody. We were all one and
we were all accepted for who we are and not what we looked like
or sounded like. There were no cruel words and there was always
trust and support through the other teens, volunteers and staff.
I am very thankful that my parents signed me up for these activities
and encouraged me to go. If I had not gone I never would have known
that there are so many others like me, going through the same challenges
that I have to. I am also thankful that there are these groups
for teens and that they are an open invitation to me. Some people
without a facial difference would like to go and meet new people,
such as the ones I met, but can’t.
This 3 day AboutFace Trailblazer trip, that I had almost not gone
to, was the best thing that I have ever done. I now have many new
friends that I can always relate to and keep in contact with. I
am so glad that I brought up enough courage to get on that bus
in the first place.
Thank you for taking the time to listen to my experience of a
lifetime.
Amanda sent this to Donna at AboutFace after
her experience.
It has not been edited.
Amanda is still in touch with almost all of the teens who
participated in last year’s Retreat. She and others
will be coming back this year.
We hope you find this letter
inspires you to get involved!! |
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