News/ “The Destruction of a Paradigm”

Waypoint received the following letter from a wonderful teacher who has taught in Boston Public Schools for nearly three decades. She participated in a Waypoint led professional development day at the start of the 2011 school year.

The Destruction of a Paradigm

For years I thought I knew what I was capable of. I knew what was good for me. I humbly admitted to not knowing everything but knew what I was capable of achieving and what I would not tolerate.  Years of trusting my instincts and believing in what I knew to be real and true were abolished in one visit to Waypoint Adventure.

I am certain that Waypoint Adventure had never had a more reluctant attendee than I last summer. I received a letter in the mail telling me I had to report for a team building activity along with a disclaimer that had to be signed in case of injury.  I am obese. I am not active and had not visualized myself doing any type of outward bound activity.  It would take place in the woods where snakes lived. Enough said.

I was the first one to arrive at the site, along with my principal. I met Dan Minnich the co founder and explained to him that I would not sign any disclaimer. He immediately said, “Ok.”  Then he asked me why? I listed my fears and he calmly said I do not have to do any activity that I did not want to.  His calmness and direct eye contact instilled trust. I signed.

They were true to their word. The other cofounder Adam Combs was my group leader. He led us through activities that were not all physical but demonstrated the need to depend on one another and not remain an island. Suddenly, we were seeing how the entire group affected one another and ultimately the team.  Yes, I knew this on an intellectual level but never on a gut level.  In explaining what he was offering he would destroy our fears with a calmness that was solidly entrenched in fact and demonstrate just how safe we would be in doing these activities. True to their word if we did not want to participate we did not have to. We could simply sit surrounded by nature and serenity.  Yet, something in the lack of coercion and honest acceptance by them made me want to try. I was not judged by them and because of that saw how much I judged myself.  There unconditional acceptance is what made this program a success for me.

The activities that we were invited to participate in caused us to depend on one another physically and emotionally.  The steady rational that was provided by the explanations given by our team leader supported our experiences. There really was no need for fear when allowing our team members to pull me up 20 ft into the air and allow a piece of rope and pulley to support my swinging into the air…..Freedom.  I mentioned that I am obese. This experience gave me hope. It instilled a belief that if I wanted things to change I could change them.  Some of the activities that were developed for team building made me value my weight and see that although different than some of the younger more physically fit members of my team I am valued by just being who I am and providing what I could and they could not.

The experiences gained from going to Waypoint Adventure were transforming and immeasurable.  I gained peace of mind. Open a closed door and began to believe in things that I had not imagined or comprehended.  I challenge anyone and everyone to surrender to the Waypoint experience and not become affected by it.

Thank you, Dan Minnich and Adam Combs for busting a paradigm and instilling joy, for your vision and commitment to everyone who encounters you and your philosophy.

“Hakuna Matata”

Sincerely,

Nadine Fernandes