During my first semester as a junior I was accepted into the Alzar School based in Cascade, Idaho. The Alzar School is a semester abroad program that focuses on building young leaders (sophomores and juniors) by designating leadership roles to students throughout the semester and having the students complete a leadership course. During the fall semester, our group was able to complete rigorous classes, while also doing a numerous amount of things such as obtaining a WAFA and CPR certification, completing a Swift Water Rescue course, doing both kayaking and backpacking expeditions, skiing in resorts near Cascade, and traveling to Chilé for 6 weeks. This semester abroad program was extremely rewarding and pushed me to my absolute physical and mental limits. I have grown a tremendous amount from this school and have learned a lot about myself from being away from home for 4 and half months, living in yurts with other students, completing challenging courses independently, traveling to a foreign country, learning how to speak Spanish to locals, learning how to roll a kayak and pack a backpack, set up camp, light a stove, BECOME A LEADER, etc. I am excited to implement the many skills I have obtained at this school and incorporate them into my daily life in Durango, Colorado, and the rest of my life.