to our world. - NOLS
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to our world. - NOLS

to our world. - NOLS to our world. - NOLS

nols.edu
08.04.2014 Views

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

Tracy Baynes/STEP 13

Tracy Baynes/STEP<br />

13

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