Their story, in their words…
Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal! This expedition is undoubtedly the most exciting and enjoyable hike I have ever had the pleasure of completing. It required resilience, teamwork and adaptability, particularly when unexpected challenges arose.
It all started as an idea: a six-day hike through Wales, exploring the beautiful landscapes of Snowdonia with four close friends. As the weeks progressed and our preparations advanced, what had initially been nothing more than an idea gradually developed into a detailed plan that we were soon going to turn into reality. We faced several major setbacks along the way, but we remained resilient and persevered through each challenge.
Eventually, we found ourselves just days away from our planned expedition, and it finally began to feel real. Before we knew it, we were on the coach, ready to begin our journey towards Wales. We were incredibly eager, but also slightly nervous, knowing that we would spend the next six days and five nights hiking for hours across the Welsh countryside, pitching and sleeping in tents, and cooking our own meals using basic outdoor cooking equipment — all without the assistance of any adults.
Despite our nerves, we came, we conquered, and we made countless memories along the way. Some of my favourite moments included playing football together, cooking as a group, walking for hours whilst listening to music through our speaker, and, of course, taking in the stunning views that surrounded us every day. Although these moments may seem simple, they were some of the experiences that made the expedition so memorable.
This entire experience allowed us to develop a range of transferable skills that will be highly beneficial in our future. From planning and organisation during the initial stages of the expedition to teamwork, resilience, adaptability and independence throughout the hike, we were constantly learning and developing. Being responsible for ourselves for six days also taught us the importance of making decisions as a team and supporting one another when things did not go according to plan.
This expedition will remain a pivotal part of our lives and is an experience that I know we will carry with us into future interviews, personal statements and other opportunities. More importantly, it has shown me that difficult situations are often the ones that create the most rewarding experiences.
Overall, this experience was incredibly insightful and taught me to remain resilient even when times get tough. There were several moments when we wanted to give up, but doing so would have meant missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful that we persevered and completed what we had set out to achieve.
Thank you to the Mark Evison Foundation for making this unforgettable experience possible.
