During the summer of 2015, I had the chance to travel out of California for the very first time. It wasn’t very far but it was still a life-changing event. Ever since I was a little kid, I have always wanted to take part in mission trips because I heard many fascinating stories and the immense impact these trips had. Luckily, I got the chance to join one before my senior year. The trip I took part in was the Navajo missions trip, a one week trip in Arizona where we had the chance to lead and interact with Native American families. When I first signed up, I thought this trip would be smooth and easy, but it really tested my leadership and compassion. Not only did preparing take a great deal of work but leading small groups and attempting to interact with the Navajo kids was even more challenging. I noticed there were many cliques among the Navajo families there and even my own group. My teammates and I were supposed to set an example, but instead we did the exact opposite. Therefore, I thought of an idea of splitting the team into three groups and targeting specific cliques to separate so we can all get to know each other. Thankfully, my plan worked and by the end of the trip the whole team had the chance to personally connect with each kid there. During the …show more content…
From growing closer to my teammates to the new friendships I made there, I couldn’t have been more thankful. Through this experience, I have learned how difficult it is to be a leader, even with the help of my teammates, and how teamwork is necessary to achieve desired goals. Helping others in need is something I am very passionate about and I am proud to have been part of this team in that I was able to be someone the Navajo kids could depend. This team and trip has been a great impact and memory in my life and I am grateful to have made the choice in participating in