No dream is too big: My LeaderShape experience

Six days.

That was the amount of time that was taken off of my winter break.  That was the amount of time that I spent in rural Pennsylvania. That was the amount of time where I made some of the best friends I could ever ask for. That was the amount of time where I found a second family.  That was the amount of time that it took for my life for be forever changed.

Whenever I tell someone that I attended LeaderShape they give me a blank stare and ask me "well what is LeaderShape? Can you explain it to me?"  Just like every other time that I am asked this question, I respond with: "It's too hard to explain unless you've been through it.  Lets just say that it will honestly change your life for the better."

I had been told by countless people that LeaderShape was going to be the best thing that would ever happen to me, but I was a skeptic from the beginning.  No one could seem to convince me that six days in the wilderness was going to change me and my life for the better.  I should have listened to them. I wish I would have listened to them.

A part of me wants to write about each and every detail of my time at LeaderShape, but some of the things that occurred are just too personal for me to write about on such a public domain.  There were stories shared, deepest thoughts and desires let out and people spoke about their big and bold dreams that they have every intention of achieving.  There were lots happy tears, heartfelt words and I really saw so much inner beauty from everyone that was there.

LeaderShape showed me that you never really know what someone is like until you actually sit down and hear their story. I will be the first to admit that prior to LeaderShape, there were some people that I had pre-conceived notions about.  When I look back on my former self, I can't believe that I ever judged anyone just based on what I had been told about them or even their looks for that matter.  I was wrong, I was so wrong and I think I will forever hold that regret on my shoulders because of how I had formerly acted.

While at LeaderShape I had the chance to interact with people from all around the Towson community.   From administrators to students, everyone was about ten thousand kinds of fabulous.  They all touched my life in one way or another and for that I am forever thankful.  I went to LeaderShape only knowing one or two people and I left with 56 new best friends.  I never expected it, I never imagined that it would happen, but I am so thankful that it did.

I've only been back at Towson for 3 weeks now and even though I have not yet started the vision that I created while I was at LeaderShape (it is going to happen, I promise), I have started another vision and that is creating this blog.  This blog has been a dream of mine for a very long time and now it has finally come to fruition I feel as if I can do anything.  In my mind, having this blog can help me to work on my blog and publicize what I really want to do.

If I could go back to LeaderShape, I can promise you that I would.  Throughout the week everyone would constantly talk about how "if everyone lived their lives like we did at LeaderShape, the world would be a better place."  And now that I am back on campus and back to reality, I can really see what that means.  It just makes sense.  Unfortunately, if you have not been through the experience, you wouldn't understand what living that life means, but I can promise you that the world would be such a beautiful place.

In short to sum up my LeaderShape experience: I have a healthy disregard for the impossible.

(Photo credit to the lovely Lindsey for this awesome editing.)

...Oh and in case you cared to know, I didn't fall my drivers test 3 times.  By some miracle I passed the first time. Hehe.