Before heading from Sarteneja to our final night in the Tropical Education Centre, we took part in a final morning reflection and program review. We recapped the entire week and recalled the people that made each day special, and it was amazing to see just how much we have accomplished and how many people we have met in such a short time. Each one of us took away something different from this trip, but the general themes of the group takeaways are: Connection, Gratitude, Stewardship, and Growth.
Each student shared a small piece of their journal reflections of what Belize has taught them:
Doris
Belize, you have taught me how to be someone who truly thinks about conservation efforts and preservation methods. Through my many experiences here, like snorkelling, engaging with locals, learning about Belizean history, and being immersed in cultural dishes and traditions, I have learned the true richness of Belizean tradition and culture and its importance to the locals.
I have been so grateful to become so engaged in gaining knowledge about the place, and it just makes me even more curious about the things that I don’t know about yet and the things that I want to learn more about. I also really appreciate the hard work of all the locals here and how they are so willing to persevere with their efforts, even when times get increasingly more difficult and it seems like there is no hope. I’m inspired by their determination and grit to save the Belizean marine ecosystem by having sanctuaries for sensitive species like manatees while also driving off invasive species like lionfish.
I’ve learned a lot about myself on this trip, and I’m proud to say that I’ve tried new things like food, different places that I’m not used to living in, and also different activities. I’ve never fished before, and yet I got to try fishing for the first time and even caught my very first fish. I will always cherish my experiences here in Belize because they’ve truly added to my identity and who I am as an individual.
This trip has made me more resilient, confident, and thoughtful because I’ve been exposed to so many different things here in Belize. For example, I’ve learned that my favourite food is tamales and that I really like horchata. These are things that I can take back home with me and share. Overall, I will always be grateful to Belize for giving me so much knowledge and wisdom, and I will forever hold onto these experiences
Thank you, Belize!
London
Belize, you have taught me to truly value the world around me. Whether that is having small conversations with the locals about their way of living and the environment they experience in their day-to-day life, or even them inviting our large group of students and staff into their comfortable homes. With our trip to the marine reserve, I learned to value and cherish the amount of work the staff put into making the marine ecosystem a better place, but also the things they have to give up in order to make the change happen.
Kelly
Belize, you have taught me to appreciate nature in a way I never had before. Being aware of the consequences of human behaviour like littering, Belize reminded me to conserve and protect the resources and to think about the effects of my actions on the environment.
Emily
Belize, you have taught me the importance of hard work, passion, and community. To directly hear about the work they do to protect their ecosystem was not only fascinating but also opened my perspective to the different behind-the-scenes dedication that takes place to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Apurvi
Belize, you’ve taught me to be more mindful and understanding of just how much increasing my carbon footprint can truly damage ecosystems around me. But most importantly, you’ve taught me to be able to pause and enjoy the little things that may be easy to miss.
Haydn
It is never the sole importance of an event that makes an experience valuable, it is always the people. From learning about my own peers’ internal struggles to my guides’ worries of the future, this process of understanding each other is what makes our lives beautiful. People are the backbone behind everything, and without this trip, I wouldn’t have truly grasped this concept.
Lily
Belize, you have taught me about what hard work, passion, and community truly means. Throughout our trip, I have met so many individuals who are so passionate about their work. Chuy’s works were amazing. His passion was reflected in his art, and it was inspiring to witness. I was so grateful for the kindness of the people, and I felt so welcomed!
Jayna
I didn’t realize I was living in a tiny bubble, and venturing out here made it clear to me that the world is huge and full of different people with different lifestyles. Hearing how much pride people have for their village, Sarteneja, was inspiring.
Kai
Belize, you have taught me the value of connection. Every individual we have met during our time in Belize has shown me how important having connections with people is.
Aaryan
Belize, you have taught me that people are multi-faceted and it is impossible to understand everything about a person. However, we can always find a little bit of good in everyone. Life will always throw curveballs and obstacles, but it will also give you gifts that last a lifetime.
Alex
Belize, you have taught me that regardless of where I am, how hot it is, how many mosquitoes bite me, the friends and connections that I’ve made are what make this trip special. For example, at Bacalar Chico, we woke up slowly to the sunrise and the sounds of roosters cawing at 5 am. While people left to go fishing on reefs, this time allowed us to be together with the still water. There are always challenges in life, yet here it feels like there are none at all.
Gordon
The trip experience in Belize has taught me all about how many people are working and putting their efforts into protecting nature and how essential these efforts are to the well-being of not only the area, but also the whole world (and the human race).
Hugh
Belize, you have taught me the power of love, whether that is through the locals and how much love and passion they have for their village and their work. This trip taught me love through how quickly it is to connect in such a magical place, especially without people always stuck to their devices.
Emmitt
Belize, you have taught me that vulnerability is a versatile and lifelong skill; through vulnerability, growth can be cultivated more than anything else could. Life does not have to be complicated to be enjoyable; life can be simple and still include moments of pure joy and happiness.
Grace
I learned to step out of my comfort zone during this trip. I realized that you only grow when you try something new.
Zoe
The trip challenged my perspective on material possessions. You don’t need as much as you think. Being welcoming and friendly are more important.
Cat
Belize, you taught me how to be grateful for my life and some necessities that I didn’t realize were not common for everyone.
