UCSD GELS Hawai'i 2019

July 25th, 2019 The Day I Returned to Boot Camp by Catherine Heinrich As I looked at the itinerary, I knew and feared what was about to come. One year prior, I had gone to the UCSD GELS program which took my fellow students and I from San Diego to Washington D.C. to learn how to present data to our various Congressmen, to attempt to enact government legislation. During my time there, we had to go to what the program called “public speaking boot camp”, which allowed the students to learn how to avoid the common blunders of public speaking, and to establish more confidence in there ability to effectively present information to a crowd.             I joined my assigned group members at the first station, and took a deep breath in a futile attempt to contain my nerves. Like the majority of my peers, I have always had a mild phobia of public speaking, and while I had gone through boot camp before, and knew it wou...

July 25th, 2019 Making Connections by Cecilia Arellano Imagine the following scenario: as soon as you close your eyes and take one deep and calming breath, you feel as if your mind, body, and nature become one. As cheesy as it may sound, that is exactly what I felt today. Throughout the week, for one reason or another, I felt as if no matter how much I wanted to and tried I simply could not connect to my surroundings the way that I wanted to. However, that all changed today.  Aloha, I am Ceci and have been enchanted by Hawai'i, especially the Big Island. Today I rode in a van with an amazing group of people during which time we shared each other's' cultural songs and sang them at the top of our lungs. Today we headed to the Dryland Forest, where we met an amazing and hardworking group of people such as Uncle Kioki and Crystal.  It is traditional to sing to ask for permission to enter the forest. We all held hands in connection and the hike leaders began si...

July 24th, 2019 The Trust Circle by Karina Garcia The Ka’umana caves were one of the most amazing things I have seen thus far. Although this was a great part of my day, the activity that really captured my attention and was very special was the Circle of Trust. When the Circle of Trust was first introduced to the group, I was scared and felt very nervous as I waited for my turn. It is very hard for me to open up to people I just met, however, hearing Susan’s talk about opening up to others helps with relationships allowed me to find the motivation and energy to share my story.  As I shared my story, it felt right, comfortable, and safe to open up. It was an interesting experience because of the strong connection I felt with students I just met. Through the storytelling, I was able to learn a lot about others and embrace my story and my background. Not only was I able to learn about my new found friends, I was also able to grow closer to my friends from home.  Af...

July 24th, 2019 Island Exploration by Takt Nagano Today we left UHH and explored the island. We went to places such as Rainbow Falls and Kaumana Caves where Cheyenne told us stories that originated from said places. We then travelled to Waiaka House, where we spent the night stargazing and playing card games. Our group also did more activities that deepened our bonds, such as the circle of trust. Cheyenne sharing a moʻolelo or story with the group. The circle of trust was an activity I had never experienced before. I shared information I have not told my friends from my high school with people I met only three days ago. Many people were also incredibly open and showed a vulnerable side to themselves, which I thought was brave considering the fact that we did not even know each other existed last week. It was also a moment for inspiration for me because many of the students' backgrounds were rough and complicated, yet they continue their academic excellence and stri...

July 23rd, 2019 The Stars of Hawai'i by Ariana Bermudez Throughout the day, I explored the beautiful scenery and culture of Hawaii. By the end of the night, every student was not only tired after engaging in team bonding activities, but everyone in the program opened up to one another. This experience helped expand both new and ongoing friendships. My night ended perfectly when I suddenly looked up and saw the night stars of Hawaii. The unbelievable view took my breath away which led to the concerned look my instructor gave me after I gasped. This was my favorite experience because I am absolutely fascinated with space and I got to cherish this moment with those who I have come to love the most. Ariana at Rainbow Falls in Hilo. At times I struggle with the fear of not being “good enough” to pursue my love for space. However, being able to see the Milky Way, Big Dipper, and even my own constellation without a telescope was amazing. Being surrounded by those who b...

July 23rd, 2019 Ka'u  by Natalie Osako Today, I was able to sense how much our guides, James and his friends, really care about their home. Hearing them talk about the history and environment surrounding Ka’ū gave me a sense of awe at how deep their knowledge is, further showing just how much they appreciate the land. Working to clear the debris off the black sand beach was hard work with all the vines, sharp sticks, and the sun beating down on us. We, a group of 27, worked for just half an hour and didn’t even clear it all. Ordinarily, this would have just been our three guides, and the amount of work that goes into just clearing those massive piles of branches off the beach showed just how hard they work to protect this area they love so much. The students working together to clear the beach and build erosion barriers. Reflecting further, these piles were carried by runoff from the mountains during stormy seasons. It amazes me how branches and leaves from fo...