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Before starting this program in New Zealand and Australia, my idea of progress and growth
was like that of many others' in today's society,
basing its value so closely to monetary wealth and technological development.
However, throughout the course of this experience, I have learned that there is much
more to progress,
and our current ideas of it are actually pushing us in the wrong direction.
Our current drive to create more and better technology has resulted in us rapidly
depleting our resources, and
consequently destroying the environment.
Before this program, I supported the
idea of furthering technology and economic growth
but my values did not have much regards for sustainability or
preserving the Earth for
future generations.
My life and my ideals were soon changed after visiting a small corner of the earth with 37 strangers.
Together, we experienced the beauty of this world
such as: the amazing dolphins in Kaikoura and Akaroa;
sacred forests of the Maori people;
the stunning Mount Cook;
the striking Fiordlands;
the majestic Carnarvon Gorge;
and last but not least, the awe-inspiring beauty
of the Great Barrier Reef.
All of these events have changed my perspective of this world
and our relationship with it.
It was also on this journey that I met amazing people such as John Maerz, Kristin Tessman, JP
Hiroti, John Carter, Simon Ling,
and Maurice Manawatu and his family
who embody the ideas, ideals and values that we should shift our ideas of progress towards.
They have taught me so much of our world
and our relationship with it,
and they have been a
dominant factor
in changing my ideals.
After this program, I
now believe that we have a responsibility to ourselves, our world, and future generations
to preserve the Earth the best we can.
After seeing the amount of beauty our world contains,
we have an obligation to our children
so that they can experience what we've experienced.
This is not an easy task and would include efforts to change our views of progress to reduce our impacts on the earth
and placing more value the natural beauty and splendors of our world,
but this world is definitely worth it.