to our world. - NOLS

Photo courtesy of Erica Perez
NOLS TEACHES
REAL LIFE
LESSONS THROUGH
EXPERIENTIAL
EDUCATION.
A NOLS education is an education that sticks. NOLS grad Erica Perez went from her NOLS courses in Alaska (above
and facing page) to the U.S. Naval Academy (left) with confidence and capability.
Tracy Baynes/STEP
A CONVERSATION WITH ERICA PEREZ
Midshipman, U.S. Naval Academy; STEP Expedition '07 & '08
Raised in Los Angeles, Erica Perez didn’t realize until she paddled for three weeks
along the pristine Alaskan coastline with NOLS that she was passionate about
the outdoors, and more importantly, that she was destined to be a leader. She learned
valuable technical skills at NOLS, but she says the most important lessons she learned
were those she gained from dealing with real situations that had real consequences.
Since her first NOLS course, Erica has repeatedly embraced those lessons, has continually
challenged herself, and is now in her second year at the U.S. Naval Academy.
What was it like to learn in the field versus
in the traditional classroom? “I never
struggled in the classroom, but being in
the field really tested me. To learn leadership
you need to be placed out of your element
and in an challenging situation and
overcome that situation, which is what my
NOLS course was all about.
What were some of the lessons you took
away from your course? “The course was
a blast, but also challenging. My growth
as a person was much greater than any of
the technical skills I learned. I grew up
in Los Angeles, surrounded by buildings,
and never left the city. Being in the Alaskan
wilderness, not having a cell phone
on me, getting through arguments with
my group—being able to overcome all of
that made me realize I could overcome
anything. My self-esteem, self-confidence,
and courage grew as a result of NOLS.”
How have you used your NOLS experience at
the Naval Academy? “Our Plebe Summer
exercises were very similar to NOLS lessons.
In the mornings we would engage
in drills that were purposefully designed
so that you couldn’t get through them on
your own. It is required that you bond
with people around you and work together
as a team. That was a big flashback for
me. A lot of the things they were telling
me, like ‘you can’t get through this place
alone’ were the same things my NOLS
instructors told me.”
Did your NOLS experience have any part in
your decision to attend the Naval Academy?
“Absolutely. The whole ‘getting out of your
element’ experience of NOLS gave me the
courage to take on a challenge like the Naval
Academy. When I was accepted, I knew
I would be challenged physically and academically.
I am going to face certain dilemmas
where I have to learn to do the right
thing, and do it honorably. I have never had
anyone in my family do military fieldwork,
but I wanted to do something big, which
came from my NOLS experience.”
NOLS partners with the Student Expedition
Program (STEP) to provide skills and leadership
training to underprivileged, collegebound
youth (www.stepexpedition.org).
12
www.nols.edu • (800) 710-NOLS • admissions@nols.edu