Post - Lesson Collective

On a warm June morning, our flotilla of rafts, kayaks, pack rafts, and stand-up paddle boards pushed off the beach for a journey into one of the southwest’s most beautiful and remote desert canyons. This group of individuals had not come here for the whitewater, as the flow through the steep and layered sandstone walls is family friendly providing a low stress, class II experience. The familial setting was appropriate, as the group had gathered from all over the country to come celebrate my “last row.“ It was the final trip of a career that I was lucky enough to discover and pursue. It would be the capstone of my professional journey with those who helped to make it so amazing.

For the next five days, I would be both heckled and praised. There would be lots of laughter and tears – most of the tears coming from me as I was humbled by the kind words and gestures that my companions shared about the impact my work had upon them. The impact went both ways as without them my career would not have been as rewarding as it was, and I would not be the person that I am today.

We would work as a team to unload the rafts and establish each night’s camps. Cook and eat gourmet food. Drink a little too much alcohol. Sit under the unfathomable cosmos and reminisce into the wee hours of the night. Lots of play and shenanigans would take place. The values and culture that I worked to establish throughout my career would be exhibited daily.

It was a fitting end to a career that I discovered while on a journey to not settle with what society told me I should do as a college graduate. Armed with a degree in economics from the Milton Friedman School of Economics (at the University of Chicago), I was poised to venture into the hyper-competitive world of Wall Street or the investment banking world. All my classmates were heading that way to make their fortunes, so the pressure was on for me to follow suit. The problem was that I didn’t like the financial industry and the values associated with it. Though I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of studying monetary policy, consumer preferences, etc., I wasn’t driven to create a life where my maximizing earnings takes precedence overall. During the final semester of my senior year, I broke from the grasp of “what I thought I should do or be” to begin a multi-year journey of self-discovery that led me to a lifestyle and career that aligned with my values and interests.

For 26 years I worked in collegiate outdoor recreation creating opportunities for college students to get outside and experience the natural world. It was deeply rewarding work that was fun, transformative, and meaningful. The deserts, rivers, oceans, and mountains of our wonderous planet were my workplace. On a weekly basis, I witnessed awe through my own eyes and those that I taught and led. I was always inspired by the work, and grateful for being lucky enough to do what I did every day. I worked with great people and met others as trip participants who became lifelong friends. I have no regrets in choosing the path less traveled.

The path was of my own creation, but I had plenty of help along the way. Experts in the outdoor industry took me under their wings and molded my inexperienced and enthusiastic self into a skilled and competent outdoor leader and educator. My supervisors supported my vision for building outdoor programs that served all students – not just the privileged. Professional and student staff embraced a culture of working hard, communicating with one another, functioning as a team, and having fun. My friends and family didn’t always understand my path but were my solid foundation giving me the confidence to take the risks involved to pursue an unconventional career and life.

As I took my final paddle strokes out of the current and into the takeout eddy, I was overcome with emotion. As a college graduate, retirement was just a dream way out in the distance of my life. It couldn’t be seen or even comprehended. While watching my team seamlessly begin the chores of the derig without instruction or prompt, memories of a cherished career flooded my consciousness. As my gaze fell on each individual working on the beach, a past memory with them streamed forth. These moments were the building blocks and soul of my career. They were evidence of time passing from beginning to end. They were the essence of my chosen vocation.