adventure risk challenge a leadership and literacy program Yosemite Writings of Summer Course Alumni 2014 Alondra Chavez Daniel Ortiz David Jung Evelyn Lopez Tahoe Haley Liu Jose Gonzalez Kim Mai Paulina Mosqueda Gonzalez Ronaldo Amaya University of California, Berkeley | Sagehen Creek and Yosemite Field Stations Andrea Bravo Hebert Cisneros Anh Phan Karla Hernandez Cazandra Rangel Santiago Espinoza Christine Kuang Tam Nguyen TAHOE PARTICIPANTS Eduardo Barrera Tristan Deatherage TAHOE - PAGE 3 YOSEMITE - PAGE 25 Adriana Meza Lemus Emma Ponce Alondra Juarez Enrique Guzman Anadi Zuniga Imelda Malaca Brandon Estrada Kwok Man Hou Carla Martinez Lievin Oyumbu YOSEMITE PARTICIPANTS Diego Villareal Valeria Garcia 2 ARC Summer 2014 tahoe BASECAMP LOCATION: Sagehen Creek Field Station, Truckee, CA COURSE LENGTH: 23 days TEAM NAME: J.G.F.F. (Jiātíng, Gia đình, Familia, Familia) Anna Greenberg Melissa Hoffman Salvador Meza Lemus INSTRUCTORS Sean McAlindin ARC Summer 2014 3 andrea bravo Sequoia Who can I trust? Now I am learning to extend my branches How can I trust? Towards my ARC family Baby Sequoia tree in an enormous layer of mist JGFF Confused and unknowing Gia-Ting Strong Sierra Nevada redwood tree Yeh-den withstanding -25 degrees and wild fires Familia Vigorous thunderstorms Family My mother and father were the ominous clouds I am a giving Sequoia ready to strike with thunder Providing shade Insults and punches roared, as thunder and lightning I CAN TRUST Who can I trust? I CAN TRUST How can I trust? I CAN TRUST Even though lightning struck me Leaving physical and emotional scars, I kept growing But getting older only led to more problems Dad’s drug abuse Defenseless teenage redwood tree It messed me up Who can I trust? How can I trust? I have been struck by everyone I know My brothers and sisters and people around me The day of my 13th birthday Lightning struck again, this time by my sister’s interference She invited the thunderstorm into my house I had to face a bully from school Once again I was left with another scar But I kept growing Who can I trust? How can I trust? A year after I moved out I extended my roots Finding Mel and Sean I went on a weekend retreat backpacking. In a sunny and giving environment Full of happy and giving people Who can I trust? How can I trust? 4 ARC Summer 2014 Hopes and Dreams I have been struggling with authority hot. I was full of fear, realizing I had mind, it was the strong survive and the since I can remember. As I was grow- never actually had a conversation with weak fall behind. Throughout I realized ing up, I never had anyone to regulate any of these people. Seeing a familiar that without the weaker people we all on me. No one to say go to bed, come face, Santiago, made me happy, but still would fall behind, because we all have home early, or even to give me a kiss weird because I didn’t ever really hang amazing qualities to give and receive. and hug goodnight. So when it came to out with him. It was so quiet in the car, For example, I was very annoyed by the school, I was very hard-headed and nev- that I could hear my own breath shorten way one of the ARC members would er wanted to listen. My junior year I had from nervousness. I could hear my heart hike. She would hike like a snail in my a U.S. history teacher name Mr. Mazzie. beat accelerate. When we got to base eyes. One day I was very frustrated at He and I never saw eye-to-eye, and I was camp I thought everything was going to base camp and I was lashing out at any- a very rebellious teenager. I would disre- be peaches and cream, little did I know body in my way. I lashed out at the slow spect him during class. I was late every that enormous challenges lay ahead. hiker about 10 times. Even though I day. Sometimes I just wouldn’t attend lashed out at her, in her heart she was his class at all. On numerous occasions, very concerned about me. Her endless I cursed at him. I ended up failing his giving heart made me realize that she class with a 30%. In the beginning of might not be the fastest hiker but she my senior year, I had to face a huge chal- had a lot to give me and others around lenge in passing the U.S. history class her. with the same teacher. This time it was for better or for worse. This class would After the second expedition I had more determine my graduation status. I was trust and appreciation in my ARC fam- determined to pass the class. I decided ily. I realized it takes more than just me that I wanted to attend college, so I put making it to the camp site, it’s called all my negative attitudes aside for a bet- group effort. Everyone had very dif- ter future. I would show up on time and ferent and unique way of helping one turn in my homework on time. I chose another. I also realized that all anyone to bite my tongue and listen to his les- wants to be is accepted. The greatest sons. I ended up passing his class with lesson of all is that everyone is unique 104%, an A+. I was the top student in and amazing in their own way. I was the his class. One sunny morning he pulled leader on the first day of our second me aside and asked me if I would be expedition. As the leader I had to help interested in a summer program named myself grow, and others as well. I decid- ARC. He told me that he loved my writ- My greatest challenge in the beginning ed to make one of the slower hikers the ing pieces in class, and he believed that was following instructions. For exam- point. That day I realized the meaning ARC could help me strengthen my writ- ple, I was very challenging towards the of compassion. I cared enough to make ing projects. I felt so surprised at the instructors, as well as to all ARC mem- the person feel supported and included. fact that my hard work and dedication bers. They would ask me to be quiet; I The people who I once distrusted and was being acknowledged. The fact that would talk louder. They would say sim- disrespected were now a big part in my Mr. Mazzie believed in me made me be- mer down, and I would walk faster. On success at ARC. They are now my cho- lieve in myself even more. So I decided the first expedition, I was very incon- sen family. to take a chance and sign up for ARC. siderate of how others felt. I wanted to walk fast and didn’t care if others Tomorrow, on July 16, 2014 I will gradu- When I got picked up by one of the couldn’t keep up. ate and become an ARC alumna. I have ARC instructors, I was so nervous. I felt many hopes and dreams. One of my my stomach sink when I heard the door- It was challenging to trust myself as greatest goals is to move to San Diego bell ring. As I walked towards the door, I well as the ARC family. I wanted to be and begin my college career. In a new was expecting to see Mel. I was shocked helpful and work to my potential but I and unfamiliar environment I will need to see many ARC members at my door. was scared that others would take me to have compassion and trust in myself The blood rushed to my brain and I felt for granted. I was very stubborn. In my and others. ARC Summer 2014 5 anh phan The Snowflake’s Journey Born as a snowflake up high, Like a phoenix rising from the ashes Blessed with happiness and appreciation and starting a new life with great changes, The calm and tender cloud - my mom - Before I even noticed, I have changed. and the thoughtful wind - my dad For the first time, I have learned to be in a new place Gave me life and a place called Home I find myself quiet and more understanding A mountain with a pointy peak covered with snow and clouds. People come often to my lake, some for relaxing A real life fairy tale. Others for comforting We lived our life to the fullest. They throw rocks, some are big, some are tiny But they are all the same: heavy. But then everything changed They scream and cry when they throw The sun covered the range with its brilliant light They call out the one they love, the problem they have to deal with Without shelter and the nice cold weather, we were forced to move. Their rocks are soaked with tears and struggles. My family, our family, slowly departed They throw them into the lake, forget about it, and live on. Turned into snowmelt then left. I was quiet, I couldn’t comfort them. “To the ocean, our birthplace!”-they said I was unable to talk with them, to resolve their problems “Let’s all be reborn, together”- we made a promise I lacked the courage to do it Our dream and future My heart shattered, I felt like I was betraying their needs with simple comforting words I ran away from struggle, like any other.