Honduras was lit!

When choosing to take a group of teenagers abroad, there is bound to be something that creates a lasting memory. More often than not, it is an injury, lost student or some small 'tragedy' that arises from the under-development of the teens frontal cortex. For me, the lasting memory involves two separate days but one incredible experience. When leaving base camp, I had endured a few days of prima dona experiences with one of my students. She complained too often about...well..everything! and to top it off her boyfriend was overly protective and over-involved in everything that she encountered from too heavy a backpack to having to use the rugged outdoors as a loo. When arriving at our high altitude camp, everyone set up their potential sleeping arrangements and we went to dinner and after dinner, in the rain went to gather data on amphibians. While on the evening adventure, my student went to bed. Upon our return the camp was alive with excitement about a rare viper that had been found at camp! As it turns out, the viper was quietly coiled up under the hammock of my student! Upon seeing the snake she calmly walked to the scientists and stated, "I think there is a snake under my hammock and you might be interested in seeing it." Here was this individual who we had come to believe couldn't handle the outdoors and she is the one who so calmly informed the scientists that there was a snake that might interest them.
Needless to say, the event changed our view of her and in fact changed her own outlook about the trip. Throughout the remainder of the trip, she was often the most active and engaged student. And....upon her return to the States, she was one of the most vocal about how great her trip had been. You never know what can happen!