Going into training camp I knew that there would be several challenges that I would need to over come. Never did I imagine how many there would be or how difficult they would be. I am the type of person though that does not like giving up.
The first obstacle I had to overcome was the fitness hike. Sure the police academy was physically grueling but I hadn’t worked out for 2 months before training camp. I was extremely nervous for the fitness hike. I tried to pack as light as possible but it was hard since it was so cold. For those of you who don’t know to go on the world race you have to complete a 2.2 mile hike in 38 minutes with your backpack on your back. I figured as long as I kept a good pace it would be easy. That day before the hike they told us that most of it was uphill and that if we wanted to complete it in the timeframe we would have to run part of it. They said just run through the woods and you’ll be fine. The only issue was that it had poured all night and poured right before the hike. Instead of it being a dry trail it was more like mudslides everywhere. I started running through the woods but then all of a sudden I came across a group of people who were tending to a girl who had fallen and possibly broke her foot. They told me to stop running and be careful. I was getting really nervous though. How was I supposed to finish in time if I couldn’t run. Through the strength that God gave me I finished that hike. I didn’t complete within the time frame but they gave me a little leeway because of the rain. I was relieved when I finished the hike but I had plenty of more challenges ahead of me.
A couple of nights after that we had a camp out. We were given food that we had to cook over a fire. A leader was assigned and she had to assign us each a job. I was in charge of cooking the food. My problem, I hardly ever cook and it’s always been in a kitchen never over a fire. I trusted God though and went for it. The food may have been a little over cooked but it tasted good and everything worked out in the end.
My next task. Before training camp I basically volunteered to come up with our dance for squad wars. While I had come up with an idea I really hadn’t come up with much else. Over the week we kept of thinking of songs we could dance to but we didn’t sit down and truly think about it till the night before squad wars. By that point we had decided to each chose a song and we’d just randomly dance to it. By complete accident it turned into a skit of us trying to come up with the perfect roadtrip song. In all reality we probably only rehearsed it for an hour. Somehow we ended up winning the dance contest. After the dance contest several people came up to us and asked us how long we had practiced it. When we told them how long they were shocked. I reminded them though that if you trust God you can accomplish anything.
The last challenge I had to accomplish I did not see coming. One of the games we played during squad wars was called David vs Galiath. Two people from each squad competed in it. One had a pool noodle while the other had an egg tied to the back of there head. The person with the pool noodles job was to break the other team’s egg while protecting there own. Once your egg broke you were out. We were told a couple of days prior what the competitions were and were told to decide who was going to compete. Typically this game is played by guys but the one Male on my team did not want to participate in it. I decided that I could handle the challengenge and volunteered to be the one holding the noodle. I then convinced Amanda to be my partner. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. When it was time for the game they called all of the players into the circle. I instantly started doubting whether I could do it. All of the other people with the noodles were easily 6 foot and had arms twice as long as mine. I quickly realized that if I wanted to win I needed to play strategically. My plan was to stand back and watch the other teams knock each other out that way I only had to defeat the last one. At the beginning it was only my team of 7 cheering us on. Then a squad would be eliminated and they’d start chanting USA. It happened with every squad. Finally it was down to just amanda and I and a duo from another squad. I couldn’t believe how far I had made it. By this point everyone but one squad was chanting USA. I almost cried because of the crazy amount of support I had and I didn’t want to let them down. We fought and fought. It went on for so long that they decided to award us both first. Seconds after they announced that we both one I collapsed onto the ground. I had used all of my energy in that challenge and had nothing left. My squad leader immediately came over and lifted me up. In my mind though I know it was God lifting me up telling me he had me. I felt I had more strength at the end then in the beginning.
I learned so much from training camp but I think I learned the most during squad wars. I learned how far I can push myself. I know I walked out of training camp a better, stronger, and more confident person.
