Cultural Connection at Outward Bound

At Outward Bound, we believe the outdoors is for everyone. We’re part of a global crew: 37 Outward Bound schools across the world from Asia to Europe to the Americas, all connected by one goal -- pushing limits and discovering what we’re capable of.

When you head to Anakiwa, you’re not just stepping into the wild backyard of Aotearoa. You’re joining a worldwide community of people challenging themselves and finding purpose through adventure.

Recently, we welcomed Clare Ng (The YWCA scholarship recipient) onto one of our courses, part of a growing community of Outward Bounders making their mark. We sat down to interview Clare and this is what she had to say about her experience.

WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF YOUR OUTWARD BOUND COURSE?

I can't believe how grateful I am to YWCA and Outward Bound and how much their sponsorship changed my life. I never ever thought I would get the scholarship-getting it was a shock. I had never done a physical course like this before, unlike everyone else who has done tramps and sailing.

As a Singaporean Chinese girl, smaller in size, I feel like I got so much out of this course, not just physically but mentally and emotionally. I feel like after this, I will live a much healthier, balanced lifestyle where I can set goals properly and truly challenge myself even further. I think that I will be a very different person.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PERSONAL CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN?

There are no words to describe how life-changing this course was. I learnt that sometimes things seem impossible, and you get so caught up in being negative and thinking that you have a limit, when really, you can do so much more.

You get out of Outward Bound what you put in, and I put my all into it and felt so proud and accomplished afterwards. I learnt that stepping outside of your comfort zone and speaking in front of others is incredibly scary, but it is not actually as bad as you think.

During the tramp, I thought I was not going to make it out, but I did it anyway and learnt that I can do anything. I was shaking, my hands were dirty and chaffed. My back hurt, and my pack dug deeply into my hips. I have never had to carry such a heavy thing in my life, and it made me realise that throughout my life I have been so well looked after.

This was the first time that I got the opportunity to connect with nature without the stress of schoolwork all day, and it reminded me how important it is to look after your mental and physical health.

WHAT FEARS DID YOU OVERCOME?

The night before the tramp, I tried on my backpack and could not even walk a few steps without feeling wobbly and unstable. I was petrified, but somehow I did it.

At Outward Bound, you can't just leave halfway through the mountain; otherwise, I might've. You have no choice but to push through even when you can't physically. I remember Kent, my instructor, seeing me fully flushed red, hyperventilating with shaky breaths and hands.

Feeling like the smallest and weakest in the group was tough. But I pushed forward as hard as I have in my life, and reaching the top of the mountain was the most incredible thing I have done in my life.

I used to fear the smallest things, like spider webs or going anywhere without my lip balm and drink bottle, but I am a changed person after this course. I learnt that you actually don’t need that many things. I will be forever grateful for the little things in life now, such as my bed and toilet.

Overall, though, the experience was so fun. I made so many friends, and I will always stay in touch with the people with whom I went through such a life-changing experience.

HOW WERE YOU CHALLENGED CULTURALLY?

Being a Singaporean Chinese girl, my family in Singapore would be proud to discover what I accomplished. I remember being quite intimidated within my own watch, with the other Kiwi being big and strong and having come from sports scholarships.

When I was forced to lift oars on the sailboat and do things like putting my sleeping bag in a tight case, I felt very frustrated and upset when I couldn’t.

As my dad and brother were always around to give me physical help, I felt like I had been slapped in the face. I was always scared to ask for help, but it was here that I was forced to get over this fear. As the course progressed, I realised that I was capable the entire time, because by the end of the 8 days, I could do all of it myself through problem-solving and realising my inner strength.

HOW DO YOU THINK OUTWARD BOUND WILL HELP YOU BETTER COLLABORATE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY?

The nature of Outward Bound New Zealand is very different from my Asian culture, but it was here that I never felt more like a true Kiwi. Tramping, sailing, and running 8km is something I know most of my Asian girlfriends wouldn’t dare to try.

Moving forward, my goal is to inspire others to bring themselves out of their shell. Outward Bound is just the beginning of my journey, and I have taken the first step out of my comfort zone to start a vlog channel called Clare Outward Bound.

Even though speaking on camera, where many people can see and judge me, scares me, I am willing to tackle this if it means potentially inspiring others and young Asian girls like me to do the course.

This is something I have become very passionate about, and I hope people who see my story can take a leap of faith.

I am very grateful to the YWCA and Outward Bound for sponsoring my trip and would strongly encourage others to apply. The scholarship is for women in leadership aged 16-26 and is truly an incredible opportunity.

Clare’s journey is just one example of the incredible transformations that happen when you step outside your comfort zone. At Outward Bound, every course is a chance to grow personally, connect with people from diverse backgrounds and experience cultural exchange in action.