Our CAS trip was an unforgettable experience made up of memorable moments that helped me develop as an IB student. When we arrived in Nainital after a long journey of ten hours, we had to go trekking for about an hour to reach our camp. This was extremely exhausting but at the same time an opportunity to develop as healthier individuals as we all got to wander in nature and give our bodies the opportunity to get acquainted with a completely different environment, a reminder of the value of participating in physical activity alongside mental exertion. The next day I woke up early in the morning to take part in the adventure courses. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip in particular as I became a risk-taker and tried new activities like zip-lining and even climbing ladders and trees. We all embarked in groups on a trek in the evening. This was a very exciting experience for all of us as we learned the importance of working and supporting teams, helping each other through the difficult aspects and even preventing each other from falling off the cliff! After returning to our camp, we all participated in team-building exercises that taught us the value of being principled in our acts and even tested our thinking skills as we participated in challenging games of the mind. The next morning we went trekking to visit a village where we learned about the significance of planting trees and how to do so, which ended up being a very knowledgeable experience. The project leaders also shared personal stories which touched my heart greatly and encouraged me to take on such initiatives in the future. We formed small teams and created gaps, planted trees and gave them water, reminding me of the importance of being a caring person. For all of us, this was a fantastic experience because we learned how small contributions can help preserve our world and how important it is to give back to nature. This led to the final part of our trip where we were all highly emotional as we reflected on our learning experiences. The bus ride back was great because we were able to relax and share our feelings about the once-in-a-lifetime experience and the memories we would always carry with us. From this experience, I learned so much about myself, including my strengths and weaknesses and a life beyond the four walls of a classroom.

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~Nishka Mittal