Meet Sierra Farrell, the Alumni Engagement Coordinator at Northwest Outward Bound School. Sierra went on the Patagonia to Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains Leadership Semester Course in 2017 with North Carolina Outward Bound. Her course was 72 days in Patagonia, The Everglades National Park, and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
What’s your favorite memory from course?
My favorite memory from course was spending my 19th birthday crossing the border from Argentina into Chile and summiting a volcano in Chile. The border crossing was on the volcano, and was simply a metal sign marking the two countries. At the top of the volcano, we were greeted by a dozen Andean Condors (the world’s largest bird) flying above us.
I decided to do an Outward Bound semester course when I took a gap year before starting college. When I graduated high school I did not know what I wanted out of college yet, and felt like I needed time before I dove into the next big chapter of my life. Participating in a 72 day course taught me so much about myself and how I handle uncertainty, challenge and being uncomfortable. I returned home with greater self awareness and confidence as I proved to myself that I am capable of much more than I realized. I returned home from course and felt ready to take the next step of going to college because I had gained such a better understanding of myself.
What advice do you have for someone who’s thinking about taking an Outward Bound course?