Flying Solo
Like Father Like Son
It was all a bit last minute but Theo had such a good time, he came back as a leader…find out why!
My first solo travel, in Mexico! The sun, the beach, the food, the culture a load of teenagers my age, what a dream at 16! But there was one problem, it wasn’t solo… I was with my dad. All of a sudden, it doesn’t sound so glamorous, and the truth is it wasn’t glamorous it all, but it was an experience for a lifetime. So good I did it twice! Once as a student volunteer and once as a leader.
Now just for context, my dad (Stephen) leads the trip and whilst on the trip insisted I called him Stephen, obviously I opted for Steve, Stevo sometimes even BIG STEVE! Much to his dismay, but that’s what a son is meant to do, no? Irritate their working father. Aside from the leader who was my dad but not meant to be my dad and meant ot be just my leader, I knew No one! In a group full of people my age the last thing I wanted was people to think he’s just the leaders son, so calling my Dad BIG STEVE actually worked really well for me, when I was trying to fit in!
I had made a decision in my head I’ll just keep to myself as we fly over, watch some movies on the plane and then get to know people when I get there. Which worked pretty well for me because who wants to talk on the plan (DEFINITLEY NOT ME!). When we finally got to Mexico after what felt like forever travelling, I was put in a room with 4 other lads, and 9 years on we still check in every now and then. So the making friends part came quite easy and here’s why? The experience isn’t about what football team you support or what shoes or clothes you’ve got (TOP TIP: don’t bring nice clothes unless you want them ruined). It’s about what you can do for those that have less than you and when you’re in a team working towards a common goal so powerful, literally building a home, it really creates a bond that is tough to break. That was one important aspect of the trip…the shift in focus. You know you don’t really have time to think about yourself because you’re spending so much supporting the community in Ensenada.
I will say in the evening’s you do have a great opportunity to decompress though and share insights about how the day has made you feel and how it might change how you act when you get home. This was important because what you see over there is pretty intense and stuff you just don’t see in the UK. For me I knew coming back I’d be more intentional in supporting the people around me, you could call it thinking outwardly rather than inwardly. I knew I’d appreciate the life I’d been blessed with. I knew it had made me a better person. I knew I’d never take my life for granted again.
