Last year, was my first trip out to Finland. It was, and still is, my favourite place to visit. Finland holds hundreds of things to do in all shapes and sizes yet is not an environment for the faint hearted.
Last year when I attended as a student, it was a holiday of fun, joy and new experiences. The Expedition this year was a lot a more than just a holiday, yet it still embodied all of those traits with a further factor of development as a leader, and personal development as well. Over the course of the week Mat and the team aided the young leaders on ways to develop how we conduct ourselves in everyday life, and as a leader. He talked about different techniques and showed us how to implement them, before letting us have a go ourselves throughout the expedition helping the students. For me, I feel that I had a significant improvement over the course of the week. I felt with the leaders’ help, I managed to overcome social fears and prove to myself that I had the confidence to speak up, and to conduct a group efficiently, and successfully whilst still allowing the group to have the best possible time. I was also taught how to look after myself properly in ways that I had never even thought of, widening my scope of vision as I came home and began to embrace a better version of myself.
Finland was never going to be easy, and at times it did prove difficult. Being just a year older than the students, I was seen as a friend to them as opposed to a leader. My goal was to maintain, and even build this friendship yet assert myself as a leader. This was difficult, yet again thanks to Mat’s help, I was taught how to slowly build the gap between friendships and a leader and by the end of the week I feel that I was seen as a youth leader yet still a friendly face. Furthermore, as well as mentally pushing myself to stand out, I was able to physically push and test myself. I joined both groups on their day hikes, and helped out others, all adding up to me hiking the best part of 30km along undulating snowy terrain.
Finland was full of successes for all of us, on both a group and individual level. These successes varied from winning games of pool in the restaurant, to teaching others skills, and watching them master them. One of the student tasks was to learn how to light a fire using the bare essentials – birch bark with flint and steel. Over the course of the week I taught them how to pick birch bark in the most sustainable way, the different ways of laying fires and their uses, and the correct technique to nail lighting the fire first time, every time. For me this was a huge success despite the fact it wasn’t my own achievement.
Seeing students hone their skills brought more enjoyment than if it was for me to achieve something myself.
As daunting as the challenges were I left with a large sense of achievement and pride by the end of the week. The students left me proud to have been one of their leaders, and grateful for their eagerness to learn. However, I am most thankful towards the leaders of the expedition, and Mat in particular for his help on all levels of the trip from simple organisation skills, to how to create a successful and competent plan for an expedition anywhere around the world.
This trip has left me with an abundance of improved attributes and skills and a desire to learn, improve and develop these skills even more. Thank you
Ben Tamplin
