Overcoming obstacles can be a defining factor when it comes to some one’s character. How people deal with the challenges of life defines what type of person others see them as. So, when it came to facing the challenge of spending the night in an African Township, I had to make a decision on what type of person I wanted to be. Did I want to go through the experience and come out unchanged, or did I want to make a change in the lives of the natives and my peers and through such a shocking experience come out changed myself?
All my life I have been a leader whether in sports, school, or arts, and this trip is a chance for me to enhance my leadership skills. My first chance to show others I am not afraid to break out of my shell and take a chance was at the township. We had been playing in the streets with a bunch of younger kids, when one of the older teens started running towards us with a rugby ball. As he approached, he threw me the ball, which was a surprise, but the biggest surprise was when he began to tackle me because I now had the ball. This is when I made the choice to make a lasting change. I could have dropped the ball, or tossed it to some one else, but instead I took the tackle and began hollering so loud I actually scared the girls in my group. I chose to take a small action like yelling in the streets to help myself and my peers step outside of our comfort zone but laugh and enjoy ourselves at the same time. I could see the reaction in everybody’s faces: this guy is a little crazy, but he will help us get through this. That’s just the kind of person I am. I will almost always take the extra risk to ensure that those around me feel safe and welcome while in such a strange and new environment.
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