Costa Rica: McKenna Everson
Program: UW Team Building in Costa Rica, Summer
McKenna’s Major: Kinesiology
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
The most memorable experience from my program was getting to build a community between the students, professors, and program leaders in Costa Rica. Everyone was super welcoming and friendly which made the study abroad program that much more enjoyable. Because this class was focused on team building and becoming a good group leader, it was necessary to build strong bonds and trust between everyone in the program. In doing so, every other moment in Costa Rica was memorable because I had created a family that was there for me throughout it all.
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
The team building academics were very different from the traditional classroom setting that classes are normally taught in at UW-Madison. I personally think that this class taught life lessons and skills in a unique way that could never be replicated in a classroom or lecture hall. Each night during the program, there would be a short module to work through that would prepare you for the activities the next day. However, these team building activities took a whole other level when being performed on excursions such as whitewater rafting, zip lining, hiking, farming, etc. Completing these different activities as a unified team was something super special that could not be replicated in a classroom.
The team building activities that were completed during this program were really purposeful and engaging which made growing as an individual and as a team player that much more impactful overall.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
The moment that I am most proud of is fully immersing myself in the culture and traditions of Costa Rica. It is easy to stay in the normalcy that you are comfortable and familiar with, whereas it can be hard to let go and take in new experiences. Learning about the traditions, customs, food, music, language, and art of Costa Rica with an open heart was definitely a moment that I am most proud of. In doing so, it allowed me to gain a much bigger perspective of the world from what I had previously known.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
For me personally I learned how important strong leadership skills are. I learned that I am a strong leader and very good at encouraging others in group settings towards accomplishing a common goal. In the past, I have always taken more of a passive leadership role in group settings, however during my time in Costa Rica I realized that being an active leader is also beneficial. I specifically learned the value that I bring to group environments due to my unique experiences and values. In fact, every individual who has the opportunity to work in any sort of group environment is important because their perspective, values, personality, and experiences make them who they are. The team building activities that were completed during this program were really purposeful and engaging which made growing as an individual and as a team player that much more impactful overall.
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
My advice for anyone considering the UW Team Building program in Costa Rica is to 100% do it. I promise that you will not regret it one bit. The memories and people that I met during my time abroad were nothing short of remarkable and it was the experience of a lifetime for sure. All of the activities were super fun and at the end of the program, there were no longer twelve strangers, instead there was one family.