Words From An Alum

By Lulu Bernal, Girls Summer at Sea 2007 aboard the SEAWARD (reprinted from Tall Ship Education Academy's Enewsletter, the Pinrail)



As soon as Nettie pulled out the Ziploc bag full of cell phones, I could see the smile and sparkle in every girl’s eye. I could feel the excitement their bodies experienced as they knew they'd soon be able to speak to their loved ones.

We had arrived at our first stop, Catalina Island. It had been almost a week since we had left the city, about seven days since we had last spoken to our families. Everyone was anxious to call and let their loved ones know that they were safe and that they missed them a whole bunch.

I, on the other hand, was excited as well, yet felt indifferent to calling home. As I held the pink Razor phone in my hand, my fingers didn't feel the immediate need to start dialing. I waited a couple of minutes before I dialed. First I had to pull myself together and put my emotions in order. Stepping on land for the first time after being in a boat for seven straight days just blows your mind. You’re totally off balance and your world won’t stop spinning. It’s not a very pleasant feeling. As I looked around me and saw tears streaming down the eyes of my soon to be sisters, I thought to myself, why aren’t I feeling this way, why am I not desperate to call home? I thought about it for a second but couldn't figure it out. As the days went by and we began experiencing more and more things the boat, everything in my mind began to settle. I realized that I loved the boat world too much to step out of it for even a second. As I embarked on this trip, I had made a commitment that this would be my life—my world--for the next nineteen days. Talking on the phone automatically pulls you back into your land life which is what I didn't want. Doing so, can bring one comfort yet it can also bring worries. I was perfectly fine with the comfort that the boat brought me and the love that my sisters provided for me. There's something about sailing that drives you crazy but in a good way. It plants a fire in your heart and brings peace to your mind. It takes you to the place you've always wanted to be. It sets you free! I had personally never been in such a peaceful environment. Along those lines I knew that not talking to my mom or dad would make me more independent than I already was.

When this was over, I would have to embark on another adventure, a little something called college. Independence is what I needed the most and doing this trip without my family was giving that to me. Learning how to build good relationships with complete strangers would be just as important as learning how to be independent. Learning how to communicate would be just as crucial. I knew that the skills I'd learn on the boat would come in handy later on in life.

It's been a week since I've gotten back and my new found skills have already been put to use. I've been able to better handle problems that go on at home since I have a better understanding of how I come off to people, including my parents, and how I project things that I say. I take responsibility for my mistakes instead of always blaming someone else. I now feel confident stepping foot for the first time in my dorm and approaching my roommate with a warm hello just as I did with theses girls when I first walked into the classroom door at SF State. I stepped onto the boat with eleven strangers and got off with eleven sisters. If I was able to do this in a matter of nineteen days, I will for sure be able to make a sister out of my roommate, let’s hope!

Overall this experience has changed my life but only for the better. Not only did it teach me about myself and others but it made me a stronger woman. I am extremely happy that I took on this challenge. It was meant to be.