Adventure, adrenaline and a truckload of activities; to say that I had an enjoyable Year 9 camp experience would be a serious understatement. After several heated weeks of study frenzies and “Will this be on the test?!”, we were all aboard the MMCC Express, on our way to Camp Yarramundi. Reminiscing now, it’s safe to say that we had no clue what astonishing events we were on our way to.

I’ll try to put it in the least melodramatic way-the activities at camp were life changing. In all honesty, at the start of camp, half the people in my activity group were simply a name and a face to me. Almost everyday, we’d cross paths in the hallways at school and never offer anything more to each other than that awkward three second eye contact. Then camp came around, and here I was, with these three second eye contact participants, expected to take on extreme challenges together. Totally mortifying, right? Nope, no it was not! I’ll tell you why-right from the first activity (the giant swing), we were helping each other put on harnesses, chatting about nerves and cheering each other on as each of us flew through the air in true Tarzan spirit.

People were just being nice out of fret, right? Nope, no they were not! I know this because at the next activity, (alpine rescue-a teamwork exercise where we had to get to a destination without touching the ground) we were out there yelling “you can do it, I’m right behind you!” and holding hands to help each other keep balance. By the end of that day, I had bonded with more people than I could count, having a series of laughs, affirmations and discussions of Korean boy bands tossed around like this group of people had known each other all their lives. Heck, I didn’t even know anyone’s favourite colour, but that didn’t stop us from building friendships like they were lego piece sets! (I expect at least 25 friendship bracelets by the end of this month, thank you). This routine continued consistently through every activity, even high ropes! (there’s something about being 18 metres above ground that really brings people closer). After those activities, the days of awkward eye contact in the hallways were a thing of the past.

If you couldn’t tell, solidarity was the main thing I took out of this camp. I mean it with true sincerity when I say that the teachers of our school and the staff at Camp Yarramundi deserve endless years of good behaviour and apples on their desks, because I’ve never felt closer to my fellow classmates.

Thank you, MMCC teachers and Camp Yarramundi staff! I also did take out confidence for myself, having conquered activity after activity like a real James Bond (minus the wobbly legs). The moral of the story is, if you want to become closer to a group of people, just hop in your harness and take for the skies!

Amily Aishia, Year 9