You choose as an individual how you are going to react to something.
I’m not going to sugarcoat anything; this pandemic happening right now is crazy. To some, it might be that they have no toilet paper, or to others, it might be that they have to file for unemployment. Everyone chooses how they are going to react and that is their perception. Your perception has a powerful ability to change situations and control your life, but with positivity, you can change anything.
My perception has changed over the years. Before attending RYLA in 2017, I was constantly dwelling on little things. I was comparing myself to others, and most importantly I wasn’t looking for positives out of situations. I never imagined RYLA to be a positive experience. I just thought it would be a couple of days in the woods without my phone with some random people trying to make friendships. I was already being negative. I had already put a wall around myself creating a barrier to others which only made me communicate negativity to my Leadership Exploration Group (LEG) as a result.
RYLA broke down my wall and showed me how to not only value others but most importantly myself. During my final reflection at my camper year in 2017, my two awesome facilitators put our group into a circle and they read prompts like, tap someone on the shoulder that made us smile during RYLA, or someone who challenged us. This activity gave our LEG a new perception of each other. During the week we accomplished many elements but didn’t focus on the improvements we made as a group; however, the final reflection pushed us to dig deep. I learned that during the week I was focused on finishing the task and the little things we did wrong, rather than focusing on the positives that came out of the elements, such as improvements in communication or taking care of our people. My LEG accomplished so much more than just the elements, but we needed our facilitators to make us recognize it. All along we were supporting each other and making each other smile, yet none of us could identify it. This final reflection led me to start to react to situations differently looking for positives, no matter how small; it changed my perception on life.
This shift in my perception of the world was tested during the first semester of my freshman year of college when a tree fell on my car in a student parking lot. It was devastating. I was alone at college without my parents. I was in charge of calling my insurance company and talking to University Officials. This was definitely scary but simultaneously empowering. At the same time, I was in charge of my perception and how I was going to react to the situation. I chose to look for the positives no matter how small they might be because they are always there.
My car was totaled, so I got to file a claim, and finance a new car all within a month. I didn’t build up my wall again and shut everyone out and give up. I pushed through; I created a positive out of what could have been a negative situation.
In this time of uncertainty, I encourage everyone to find positives. For students of all ages living at home right now, enjoy the time spent these next few weeks with your family. For those of you stuck at home by yourself, get outside and enjoy nature (while still being 6 feet away from everybody); cherish the world we live in. If you have friends or family that might be sad, angry or disappointed, talk to them but don’t let them bring you down.
With all of this uncertainty, remember only you can choose how you are going to react!
River Lusky is from Fryeburg Maine. She attended RYLA as a camper in June of 2017 and was sponsored by the Fryeburg Area Rotary Club. River is currently doing the spring semester of her freshman year online through the University of Maine at Farmington where she studies Elementary Education. When she is not doing schoolwork she is spending time outside with her dog and enjoying time with her parents.