Testimonial - Teri

I am an alumnus of a 1978 Dartmouth College bicycling course. As I was looking up ideas to teach my Health and PE class I came across the OB homepage. What great memories it brings back into focus! Now that I am about to turn 40 years old I realize that many of my strengths as a teacher, friend, and as a mother have a foothold in the experiences from Outward Bound.

I teach Health and PE to ninth graders so I am constantly reminded of how hard adolescence can be with the media influences, and the absence of role models and family structure. I truly believe that the personal challenges that are the core to OB are the most valuable that I experienced in my young life. I still continue to draw on my "solo" experience when I speak to kids about self-esteem. I attempt to get the message across that if they will allow themselves to depend on their own intuition and inner strength they will be proud of their decisions.

The other skills that I pull from often is group decision making. I remember my biggest lesson was just keeping my mouth shut and listening to the other 9 members of my group before I tried to speak my peace. I still remember that I wanted to just go into my tent and shut it all out. But, by actually listening to the others I learned that I was not alone in my frustrations and that solutions really could be found to make life easier.

As I am honored for my relationships with students other teachers want to know what program or method I use. I don't have a good answer. There is no magic way to work with young people. But, now as I reflect on my experience 23 years ago I learned how to deal well with kids because I was treated well by my leaders through very tough situations. I was treated with respect, my emotions were dealt with respectfully, and I was held to those same standards when I dealt with my peers.

I thank you for the opportunity to write this reflection,

Teri Horton-Hogan

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