To Serve, To Strive and Not To Yield

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands during challenge and controversy”  - Martin Luther King Jr -

This post was written two weeks ago but I just couldn’t find the time to complete it cos I was totally stressed-out settling my girls back to a new school term. All three of us were depressed, waking up early for school was difficult for them (and for me as well), completing daily schoolwork was slower than normal, losing many hours of TV and play time caused daily mood swings, etc, etc.

When our friends heard about Erica, my elder girl’s recent trip to Outward Bound School (OBS), many of them asked us, “OBS? What is that all about?” They were intrigued when we told them that Outward Bound is an international, non-profit independent, outdoor education organization with approximately 40 schools around the world. The school teaches interpersonal skills, wilderness survival skills, and leadership skills through the range of courses that they offer. Its mission is to help people discover and develop their potential to care for themselves, others and the world around them through challenging experiences in unfamiliar settings.

Actually I have been waiting for the past three years (cos 10 years is their minimum age requirement) to send Erica to OBS’s Children’s Adventure Camp. I had alot of faith in the OBS program because I went there when I was young. The OBS experience was invaluable to me, it most definitely helped formed my character. I remember having to complete many obstacle courses, having to kayak (canoe) around the entire Pulau Pangkor (an island in Malaysia) over two days, having to complete a 150km trip by bicycle and having to camp all by myself for 2 days where I had to pitch a tent, cook for myself and start a camp-fire at night. Without OBS, I would never imagined that I had it in me to complete all these “impossible” tasks. At the end of the course I was convinced  that everything in life is possible as long as I gave my 100% best. To serve, to strive and not to yield – OBS’s motto, one that I practised till today.

Why do I feel that Erica needs OBS so badly? Since young she had been an extremely quiet child. She had alot of problems talking to non-family members and making friends. Thus she ends up all by herself most of the time, and is depressed….. To make matters worst, my younger daughter is just the opposite, a super sanguine. She is cheerfully optimistic by nature, is extremely popular in school and have lots of friends. We tried to help Erica by sending her to speech and drama classes, organising play sessions for her friends at home and teaching her simple ways to interact with her friends. All these did help, but only a little……..

I am so happy that she benefited so much from the 10 days that she spent at OBS. Thank you so much, Outward Bound Malaysia, for a more confident and much happier Erica. She is opening up and is making ALOT of progress speaking up in public and making friends. Even her teachers in school noticed the very “new” Erica, and is so happy for her.

Once again, to the Camp Director, Instructors, and the rest of the staff at Outward Bound Malaysia, thanks over, and over, and over again. David and I are so grateful to you all of you.