My initial impressions of the global sustainable business and leadership field trip to Antarctica begin with excitement to embark on such a unique experience. Only a tiny fraction of the Earth’s population has traveled to Antarctica, and an even smaller fraction gets to participate in some of the activities that my group gets to experience, such as kayaking, camping, and snowshoeing. As I prepare for this experience, I have several goals in mind. I hope to grow professionally, personally, and sustainably throughout my time in Antarctica.
I expect to develop my professional skills as I learn about the leadership structure of our ship’s crew. The crew members are hired from countries worldwide and require adaptability, cultural awareness, and perseverance skills to run the expedition efficiently and safely. I hope to learn and develop these skills while meeting with the crew’s leadership.
I also plan to develop personally throughout my time on this journey. As I am packed onto a ship for almost two weeks with strangers worldwide, I plan to develop personal attributes as I push myself to form close relationships with my peers. I also plan to spend this time disconnected from the internet to clear my mind and relax in this pristine environment.
Lastly, I plan to grow my mindset of sustainability throughout my time in Antarctica. It is widely known that Antarctica is a fragile environment that is highly susceptible to climate change. However, since Antarctica is so far away from us, it is easy to lose sight of how our daily actions directly affect this environment. I want to experience this first-hand to remain cognizant of how my actions as a future leader affect the Earth and its wildlife.
