After completing her Duke of Edinburgh expedition, Amaia (Year 8)  reflects on the challenges, teamwork, and personal growth she experienced along the way. From steep climbs to moments of self-doubt and discovery, her story captures how this adventure helped her build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection with her teammates and the outdoors.

Looking back, the start of the expedition was easily the most daunting part. Staring up at those steep, seemingly never ending inclines, I felt a massive wave of doubt. I didn't have much faith in my own stamina and was terrified of being the one to "break" and bring the whole team down. However, the moment we hit that first checkpoint and realized we were actually ahead of schedule, my entire mindset shifted. I felt a huge surge of self-belief; I realized that my body is much stronger than my brain gives it credit for. I’ve come out of this feeling way more confident in my ability to handle physical challenges, and I discovered a hidden knack for being the "team cheerleader" when everyone else’s energy started to dip.

The "digital detox" was probably the most surprising highlight for me. Being away from social media and my phone meant I actually connected with nature and, more importantly, with my teammates on a much deeper level. We weren't just texting in a group chat; we were having real conversations and laughing through the fatigue. We worked incredibly well together because we kept a constant dialogue going, though I noticed that whenever we fell into silence, the hike felt ten times harder. We did have one moment where we got turned around near a wooded area, but instead of panicking or blaming each other, we stayed calm, re-oriented the map, and got back on track within minutes. It taught me that while individual roles like "navigator" or "leader" are important, being a supportive team player is what actually gets you to the finish line.

In terms of logistics, I definitely learned some lessons the hard way. While our route planning was spot on and we were actually quite fast compared to the other groups, my personal kit prep needs a total overhaul for the next trip. I massively overpacked on clothes and spent the whole time feeling overheated, yet I somehow managed to underpack on water. By midday on the first day, I was feeling the effects of dehydration, which is a mistake I won’t make again. For anyone starting their first DofE, my biggest advice is to be obsessive about your meal prep, energy bars and pre-planned snacks are literal lifesavers for your morale.

Looking ahead, I’m already dreaming of a coastal route for my next level. I’d love to find something along the south of France; even though it would be a challenge to map out such a long hike, the idea of trekking with a sea breeze sounds incredible. To wrap this section up, I’m planning to put together a video presentation of our journey to show the "before and after" of our team’s confidence. I’ve still got some volunteering hours to log, but after conquering those hills, I know I can get through the rest of the program with no problem. 
 

Amaia C.
Year 8 Student