South Otago High School Year 13 student Millie Scott recently had the opportunity to attend an Outward Bound course after receiving the Pukekoma Scholarship from the Clutha Foundation.
The scholarship helped Millie take part in one of New Zealand’s well-known outdoor education programmes, where students are challenged to step outside their comfort zones, work alongside others and discover what they are capable of.
For Millie, the experience was about much more than the activities themselves. While the course involved plenty of physical and mental challenges, she said the real value came from what those moments taught her.
“If you’re going to eat a frog, best not to look at it too long,” Millie reflected. “It sounds strange, but it simply means if you’ve got something difficult to do, don’t spend forever thinking about it. Just get stuck in, because the longer you wait, the harder it becomes.”
Looking back, Millie said Outward Bound was not really about the activity she was doing; the activities were the experiences that taught her resilience, teamwork, gratitude and confidence.
Millie’s time at Outward Bound is a reminder of the value of opportunities that encourage young people to challenge themselves and grow. With the support of the Pukekoma Scholarship and the Clutha Foundation, she has returned with lessons that will stay with her well beyond the course.