Aarav Shah
Kinard Cares - Period 5
26 November 2018
Catalina Refraction Writing - The Head and the Heart
Catalina Island left a powerful imprint on my brain, but an everlasting impact on my heart. The beautiful memories of sunrises, bonding and making friends, and enjoying the trip as a whole will gradually fade in the recesses of my mind, but in my heart lies the true value of the entire trip: the emotions connected with the actions. I aim to remember the activities, such as snorkeling, kayaking, and the hike, and all the service learning blocks. But I aspire to retain the feeling of exhilaration when I first swam in the ocean while snorkeling, the fear transforming into confidence on the ropes course, and the overwhelming feeling of content as I played GaGa
Ball with my friends, the whole Kinard Cares class. Although the memories will eventually die, I hope I can keep them in my heart. Catalina changed me as a person in many different ways. I now feel more confident and less judging of others. I made a resolve to be myself, even if someone want me to be someone else. I let go of my stressors, leaving behind a heavy weight and lightening my burden. I enjoyed and appreciated my short time on island, especially what it did for me. Catalina opened new doors for my future and enlightened me. I learned a lot from
Catalina, not just about service learning, but also about the others in Kinard Cares. I feel much closer to them than I did before the trip. Also, I learned a lot from David, who supported and helped me throughout the trip. David’s last quote impacted me in a deep way: “The memories will fade in your head, but hopefully you will keep them in your heart.” I hope to live by this quote, not just for this trip, but for every endeavor in life. I hope to forever value Catalina in my heart for the way it impacted me.