This past weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to travel with dozens of my fellow cadets to the Whitewater Center. I had never really been on a trip like this before, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect!
Going down the rapids with some of my fellow cadets ended up being one of the best parts of the weekend. Between getting hit by waves, trying to stay in the raft, and laughing at each other the entire time, it was one of those experiences that you can’t really recreate back on campus. We must have been especially strong in our raft because not a single wave could take us down. Well, except for LeQuire, who may have purposely rolled out while we were peacefully floating back.
Even though we didn’t get the chance to experience everything the Whitewater Center had to offer, I also had the opportunity to take photos throughout the trip. I enjoy being able to capture these moments because it gives parents a chance to see what we are doing, but it also gives us as cadets something to look back on later. Some of the best pictures aren’t necessarily the perfect ones. They’re the ones where everyone is laughing, soaked, tired, or just having a good time together.
Being able to step back and take photos also gave me the chance to see the trip from a different perspective. I could see cadets trying things they had never done before, encouraging each other, and just enjoying the opportunity to get away from our normal routine for a while.
That is probably what stood out to me the most. At Ãļ§Ö±²¥, we hear a lot about brotherhood and the importance of the people to our left and right. On a trip like this, you actually get to experience what that means. When you’re going down a rapid together, everyone has to work together. You have to listen, communicate, and trust the people in the raft with you.
It also reminded me how important it is to get outside of your comfort zone. I had never done anything like this before, and if I hadn’t been willing to try something new, I would have missed out on a great experience. Looking back on the weekend, I think trips like this are a big part of what makes the Ãļ§Ö±²¥ experience different.
For me, that is what I’ll remember most about this trip. I got to try something new, take some great photos, spend time with my fellow cadets, and come back with a better understanding of why these experiences are such an important part of we have at Ãļ§Ö±²¥.
– Cadet Garner
