Conquering fears, creating memories

I’ll always remember the day we learned we were going to an island in Uganda for the team outing. At first, I was thrilled. The thought of crossing the border for the very first time was exciting! But then, something changed. Suddenly, I felt really nervous. You see, I have thalassophobia, which is a fancy way of saying that I am afraid of deep waters.

Just the thought of being surrounded by all that water made me uneasy. My mind couldn’t stop imagining all the scary things lurking below the surface. But I didn’t want my fear to ruin the adventure. So, I decided to face it head-on.

The journey turned out to be pleasant as we immersed ourselves in lively music, exchanged stories, and had impromptu dance sessions.

I am the type of person who enjoys a good book without any kind of interruptions. On the bus, I made an interesting discovery: some of us could read a book uninterrupted, despite the laughter and music. Pretty awesome, right?

On our way to the border, we visited the National Liberation Museum Park in Mulindi. Exploring the bunker that once shielded H.E. Paul Kagame, who was the chairman of the High Command at that time, took me back to a crucial moment in our nation’s history. Standing in the very spot where decisions were made and battles were fought, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence and awe.

Our next stop? Supreme Adventure Park—a name that promises excitement and memories. Upon arriving at Lake Bunyonyi, I was struck by its serene beauty. The water was calm, and everything was wonderful. However, the only downside was that we had to take a boat ride to reach the island, and it was my first time in a boat, which made me feel anxious.

As we set off for the island, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that sometimes it’s okay to be scared. Despite my initial nervousness, I even found myself enjoying the boat ride.

The next three days were unexpectedly fantastic! We played fun team-building games during the day and shared laughs, 

stories, and games at night. I made lots of new connections, which surprised me. I usually go to bed early, but those nights, I didn’t want them to end!

I had a blast on the high ropes course and the zipline. At first, I doubted I could do it, with all the walking on buckets, tires, wooden boards, and nets hanging in the air. I worried the high ropes and zipline wouldn’t hold me, but they did! Once I got on the zipline over Lake Bunyonyi, my fears vanished—it was pure magic!

Despite my fear, the outing turned out to be amazing. Sure, there were moments when I felt a little anxious, but being surrounded by my friends helped me feel brave.

In the end, I learned that facing your fears isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. And who knows? Sometimes, the things that scare us the most can lead to the best adventures.

Akineza Gisa Aline