Our Students On Ice’s Youth Contributors share their expectations on their Arctic expedition!
Arctic Expedition 2008
By Students On Ice's Youth Contributors
Our Students On Ice's Youth Contributors share their expectations on the 15 day Arctic journey they are about to live!
By Alexandra LaPat Polasko
To a writer, publishing a book on his passions is his greatest dream. To a sailor, it’s of owning a boat. However, to me, it is learning and creating moments to help our earth’s ever growing climate crisis.
When I first found out about the Arctic on Ice Expedition, I knew that this was my chance to change not only myself, but to change the world. As in the words of Charles Dickens, I have many “Great Expectations” for this trip. However, a few that I hold high on my list consist of not only meeting life long friends to help, and guide me through my journey to saving our planet, but also, I plan to discover a new part of myself. I expect to strengthen my passion for adventure, and in our planet’s need for action.
The longer I keep thinking about this trip, the more I realize that I don’t just have “Great Expectations;” I have extraordinary expectations!
Thank you Arctic on Ice, you are my guiding light to a bright and moving future!
By Graham May
Two days ago, at the beginning of my first Students on Ice voyage, I left my hometown, not knowing what to expect. So far, I have learned many amazing truths about my country and myself, and I have met many amazing people from around the world.
As we continue northwards on our journey, I hope to learn much more about the polar world- a world that only a privileged few have ever experienced! I have every expectation that this will be a unique and life changing voyage!
In the coming weeks, I hope to saturate myself in the culture and beauty of the Northern life. I hope to spend time with the incredible scientists and youth that are sharing this experience with me. I hope to learn about the native Inuit we will encounter. And I hope to make some lifelong friends.
My ultimate hope for this program is that it will give me a different way to look at the world and my impact on it. And, most importantly, I hope that this program will help me to make a difference in the world!
By Rohit Mehta
In the coming weeks, I am expecting a multitude of experiences. I know we will board our ship with a diverse group of people, but I expect this to be much more than a ride on a ship.
There will be exchanges of stories and experiences. Lasting friendships are expected. There will be emotional moments, when the North will take our breath away.
I expect us to be enlightened by a deeper understanding of the Arctic, and how our lives are connected to it.
I expect laughs, tears, and moments of frustration, inspiration, and overwhelming motivation.
I expect the last flight back to Ottawa to be one full of reflection.
Finally, I expect this trip to change the way we look at our lives, and how we live them!
Image credits (from top): 1) A group photo at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.; 2)Students getting in shape on the grounds of Rideau Hall before departing for the Arctic Expedition
Posted by on 08/04 at 05:18 PM