Article by
Awil Mohamoud previously of Lister School
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...we needed to work as a team in order to achieve our goal...
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I took part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award which is about doing something active and educational. I was required to finish four sections to complete the Bronze award which included doing something physical that was about becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities; something that required skills, which was about developing existing talents or trying something new; and volunteering, which was helping someone, the community or the environment. All these had to be done for a minimum of three months each. When I had completed this I could move on to do the fourth section, which was the expedition.
Gaining the Bronze Award
There’s a Bronze, Silver and Gold Award. I started with the Bronze award and hope to complete the other two in the future. There’s a variety of different expeditions, anything from walking, biking, sailing to horse riding. My school chose the walking expedition in Essex (Epping Forest) which wasn’t as easy as it sounds, as we had to carry around with us really heavy rucksacks full of our tents, clothes, food, cooking equipment and other things we would need during the expedition and throughout the walk. We also camped there overnight, and had to find our way from start to finish using a compass and map in an area we were unfamiliar with for two days, walking a total of 21 km. Working together was difficult at times as we all became tired and fed-up with each other, but we overcame this as we needed to work as a team in order to achieve our goal. This was just the practice expedition, though, as we had a final expedition awaiting us in which we had to walk a longer distance and do it in the cold winter!
Tough, tiring, stressful ... but highly recommended
Despite being tough, tiring, stressful and lengthy I highly recommend it as it is a worldwide recognised achievement that colleges, universities and employers like to see. Not only do you get an award you learn so much and gain plenty of skills. I personally found what my limits were, improved my fitness, became mentally stronger and more determined. I gave up weekends to come to school, stayed after school and lunchtimes to plan for the expedition by learning how to read maps, calculate distances on a map, use a compass, plot our route on the map, learn how to put together the tents and everything else we needed for the expedition.
Different, challenging and rewarding
During the expedition we found it extremely difficult to carry on walking and at times felt like just quitting. In spite of this we carried on and all managed to finish the two days, and later on we felt good about completing it. After the expedition we all felt aches and pains. I am also looking forward to having it on my CV and presenting it at my future interviews as it is something to be proud of accomplishing and that’s the main reason I’m doing it. I recommend that you do this too because it’s something different, challenging and rewarding and you’re not just at home playing games all the time, staring at the TV all day or on the streets doing nothing, watching life pass you by. It’s worth noting that if there are no more spaces left on your school’s expedition you can take part outside of school with a community group. Anyone aged between 14 and 24 can do it.
Visit this site for info:
www.dofe.org 4
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