Outward Bound, Inward Growth

When Aliza Rashid ’27 first hoisted a roughly 50-pound backpack onto her shoulders in Costa Rica, one thought immediately crossed her mind: I can’t do this. Ahead of her were nearly two weeks of hot and humid weather with jungle terrain, far removed from the comforts of home, for ten days. She thought to herself, “I can’t do this.” By the end of the experience, however, Rashid had discovered something far more important than how to carry a heavy pack or pitch a tent: she could do considerably more than she thought she could.

Rashid traveled to Costa Rica this summer through the Perry Levy Outward Bound Scholarship, an opportunity that gives KO students the chance to challenge themselves through an Outward Bound experience. Rashid was intrigued after hearing about her older brother’s Outward Bound trip to Colorado and seeing that a Costa Rica program combined backpacking with something she had always wanted to try: surfing. “My family isn’t really into hiking,” she said. “So I was like, this is a great way to do that.” What sounded appealing on the Outward Bound website quickly became very real.

With Outward Bound Costa Rica, Rashid spent 10 of the 12 days backpacking, carrying not only her own belongings but also a share of the group’s supplies. “I need to find a way to get out of this,” she said initially.  “This is crazy.” Rather than succumb to her misgivings,  she kept walking.

Some days stretched for 12 or 13 miles. There were steep climbs, rocky descents, temperatures in the 90s, and relentless humidity. Thunderstorms triggered mudslides along the trails, requiring local residents to help the group clear paths. At times, Rashid sank knee-deep into the mud.

To beat the heat, the group sometimes woke at 4 a.m., put on headlamps, and packed up camp in the dark to get an early start. “Slowly, it just became like second nature,” Rashid said. She also discovered the power of tackling a difficult challenge with others. “If I was by myself, I would never be doing this,” she said. “But with a group of people, it really helps you.”

The experience also introduced Rashid to people living in remote mountain villages. The group visited homes and farms and learned about a way of life vastly different from their own. Some evenings stretched late as residents shared stories and artifacts with the students.

One of the trip’s biggest tests came when each participant spent a night alone. Rashid had to set up her own shelter as rain began to fall. That night, a thunderstorm rolled through, and in the pitch-black darkness she could hear animal noises that seemed to get closer. Her solution was surprisingly straightforward: she went to sleep. Before she did, however, Rashid spent time journaling and writing a letter to her future self, one she will receive a year from now. She even began writing her college essay during the solo experience.

Rashid also tested her leadership capabilities along the trail. At KO, she is comfortable stepping forward in clubs and activities she knows well. In Costa Rica, she was asked to lead in an entirely unfamiliar environment. For two days, Rashid helped set the group’s pace, made sure no one fell behind, listened when someone needed a break, and carried additional group supplies when needed. “I’ve never led anything in that type of setting, in an athletic setting,” she said. The experience changed how she saw leadership. “It made me, again, believe in myself more.”

After 10 days on the trail, there was a well-earned reward: two days at the beach learning to surf. The waves initially looked intimidating, particularly for someone who doesn’t spend much time in the ocean. But, fittingly, surfing became one more lesson in trying something that looked impossible from the outside. Rashid kept paddling out, kept practicing, and eventually got the hang of it. “It’s really rewarding,” she said. “It’s really fun.”

That may be the larger lesson Rashid brought home from Costa Rica. During her solo night, she wrote about knowing her worth, believing in herself, and remembering she can do difficult things. “Truly, when you do a hard thing like this, you realize that you can do anything you put your mind to,” she said. “Once you’re there, if you believe you can do it in your mind, your body will do it.”

Already, she has found herself drawing on the experience. When a practice gets difficult, she reminds herself: I hiked all of that. I can do this.

And Rashid is thinking about her next challenge. She recently heard the suggestion that everyone should attempt at least one hard thing each year that they don’t think they can do.  Someday, she thinks that hard thing might be running a marathon. For now, though, 10 days trekking through the Costa Rican mountains with a 50-pound pack is a pretty good place to start.