Hi. My name is Diana Lane. I went on a 21 day canoeing course
through the Greenville base in July 2001. It was the best
experience of my life. A local foundation in my hometown gave
myself and 39 other students scholarships for the course.
The first day I got a really bad stomach flu and so the first
week was really hard for me. Our groups traveled up the entire
Allagash River. When we got to the end of the last 8 mile
stretch, Chase Rapids, the feeling was so amazing. The ranger
that met us at the docks said that he had never seen anyone
in the last 18 years paddle up the last stretch. We all realized
how much we had done. We all learned how to poll, and some
people hadn't even canoed before. That was only the beginning.
We still had a week and a half left. I really don't think
the people on base expected to finish the course. It was a
very hard and long course, the hardest one that our course
director had EVER sent out. We got back early though, and
surprised everyone, ourselves included. We hadn't been re-supplied
at all because of how far away from base we started and we
all wanted to get our mail and hear from our friends and family
back home. The course for me was really life changing. It
made me realize that I can do anything, and that I should
be doing things for myself, not other people. I learned that
my goals and the challenges I take on are to prove to myself
that I can do it, not other people. Our instructors, Donnie
Mullen and Jamie Donell (I think that's his last name) were
awesome and it was the best experience of my life. If I ever
have a chance to go again, I will definitely do it.
