TWB Reflections!
Coming into this trip, we had all heard from past
participants how this was going to be the best 23 days of our lives. However,
many of us – especially those who had never been camping before – were unsure
if this was going to be true. Many of us came into this trip knowing few or no
other people and many of us were nervous to leave the comfort of our homes for
three weeks straight without our cell phones. Especially throughout the first
five days, we were thinking “what have we gotten ourselves into” and a lot of
us were homesick. However, after a week, we started to feel better about the
trip. We made friends with 81 new people and we were with the most amazing
counselors we could have hoped for. Now that the trip has come to a close, we
can see just how much we’ve grown as people but more importantly, how we’ve
grown as friends. Although most of us are excited to have a private shower
again and not have to wait for seconds on food, we are all going to miss this
trip because we know it will never be this way again. Never again will all 82
of us be together in the same place and because of that, we know this goodbye
will be a bittersweet one. Looking back, I wouldn’t change any of the hardships
we’ve endured on this trip for anything. We have a new family now who will
always be there for us and for that, we thank our counselors and most
importantly, God. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in sending 82 teenagers
across America. This truly has been the trip of a lifetime and the best 23 days
of our lives.
TWB is the best thing I have ever done! I don’t want to go home!” – Jessie Curtis, Gastonia
“TWB is an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world!” – Phoebe Gilmore, Mathews
“TWB is the greatest gift that God has given me. It taught me what it meant to truly live and gave me new happiness and a second family” – Hannah Rock, Wilmington
“More life changing than I was expecting” – Sierra Lawing, Cherryville
“TWB was an amazing trip that taught me lots of life lessons and showed me the beauty of the US and gave me friendships that I never wanted to end!” – Danielle Hahn, Mooresville
“Greatest adventure you will ever take” – Grant Waddell, Tyron
“This trip helped me gain a brand new perspective on getting to know people and learning how to escape the pressures of the modern world.” – Aubrey Spicola, Iron Station
“TWB has helped me appreciate the small things in life and to see how beautiful our country is!” – Cade Hastings, Crouse
“TWB is one of the biggest blessings I have been given, and nothing will ever compare.” – Acerah Strickland, Lumberton
“TWB is a life changing trip that helps open your perspective outside of your hometown and helps you become more appreciative of what you have.” – Maddie Powell, Reidsville
“Going on this trip has been one of my best decisions, I wouldn’t trade these people for the world.” – Lilly Myers, Belmont, NC
“It’s not about the places you travel that makes the most amazing experience, it’s the people.” – Gracie Crocker, Union
“Through TWB I have made a new family that has my back. TWB has rewarded me with self confidence and pride, through setting up my sleeping bag and being drenched when waking up. It’s also showed me how to be selfless instinctively for others and that something I will never learn anywhere else other than on Teens Westward Bound.” Marc Chroback, Denver
“Thank you so much guys for a trip of a lifetime.” – Cole Languell, Davidson
“It’s not the places that make the trip it’s the people” – Emma Hooks, Whiteville
“TWB is an amazing experience, that teaches you how to make a ton of different string bracelets, how to cook in mass quantity and low quality, and how to form bonds that last a lifetime.” – Ashleigh Stocks, Whiteville
“The trip is what you make is and a bad attitude will get you nowhere” – Anna Riley Gutierrez, Charlotte
“I recommend this trip to someone who’s seeking adventure!” – Madisen Snipes, Mooresville
“TWB taught me so many valuable life lessons and helped me create friendships that will last a lifetime.” – Olivia Wagner, Denver
“TWB showed me I could do more than I ever realized I could, and made me more independent all around” – Anna Gregory, Union
“Yes! The places are great but the friends you will make are better!” – Brina Childers, Union
“Going on TWB not only showed me America, but it showed me that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have, but how genuine your friends are.” – Olivia Jones (OJ), Denver
“TWB allowed me to learn more in 23 days than I have my whole life.” – Ruthie Brock, Clinton
“Enjoy the experience and always have a positively open mind, because if you don’t you won’t enjoy yourself.” – Mabry Sumner, Charlotte
“Get as much sleep as possible and enjoy it you don’t get a lot.” – Sam McConnell, Mooresville
“TWB is great and so much fun!” – Logan Allen, Mt. Holly
“You will have the time of your life kids!!!” – Hayden Armstrong, Gastonia
“TWB, thank you for the experience of a lifetime!” – Alayna Hogston, Gastonia
“These memories will last a lifetime!” - Casey Gore, Gastonia
“I loved the places and people I was blessed to experience
for these 23 days.”
Emma Campbell, Raleigh,
NC
“Teens Westward Bound strengthened my relationship with God,
improved my self confidence, and brought me lifelong friends.”
Madison Styer,
Reidsville, NC
“It is crazy how 23 days with 82 “strangers” can change you
completely.”
Katie Blackmon,
Blackstock, SC
“Nobody will understand how much this trip means to me.”
Ethan Griffin, Monroe,
NC
“TWB has taught me more about myself, God, and opened my
heart to 81 new best friends whom I traveled with across the amazing America.”
Caroline Roseman,
Reidsville, NC
“TWB has taught me so much about myself and opened my eyes
to what the world has to offer.”
Rachel Holder,
Greenwood, SC
“TWB has taught me that I can accomplish more than I could
have ever imagined and taught me the importance of love and friendship.”
Anna Mercer, Lumberton,
NC
“23 days is shorter than you think, you’re never gonna
travel across the country with 82 teenagers again so live it up.”
Gracie DiBella,
Gastonia, NC
“Enjoy every moment, it goes by so fast! I’ve made tons of
new friends and discovered a new side of myself!”
Sydney Hawkins,
Reidsville, NC
“Never again will I have the opportunity to see our amazing
country with my closest friends.”
Gage Adcock, Cramerton,
NC
“TWB showed me this amazing country with my new amazing
family.”
Piper Gallen,
Wilmington, NC
“This experience is unlike any other. I have met the most
incredible people and seen our amazing country with them.”
Gabriella MacLeod,
Irmo, SC
“You will never forget the bugs and laughs you had with your
new BFF’s.”
Jade West, Leland, NC
“TWB is the experience of a lifetime and you won’t regret it
one bit!”
Andrew Cahn,
Whiteville, NC
“Life changing experience with my new family with whom I
hope to continue to hang out with even after this amazing trip across the
beautiful country that is America is over.”
Jack Current, Gastonia,
NC
“This experience changed my life in so many ways, wouldn’t
trade these past 23 days for the world!”
Camryn Kine, Belmont,
NC
“Live in the moment it goes by super fast.”
Amelia May Tuttle,
Gastonia, NC
“Really helped me get out of my shell.”
Cody Allen,
Mooresville, NC
“Best thing I’ve ever done.”
Evan Das, Wilmington,
NC
“It was lots of fun but messed up my sleep schedule.”
Brantley Coggins,
Kingsport, TN
“82 people and 23 days is 4 new friends a day and countless
memories.”
Jenna Harris,
Mooresville, NC
“TWB has forever changed my life and I won’t ever forget all
the memories made in the past 23 days.”
Rebecca Faust,
Gastonia, NC
“TWB has given me a whole new perspective and connected me
with so many new friends.”
Savannah Amick,
Mooresville, NC
“It showed me what the US has to offer us as individuals, to
live life on the edge, and that sharing is truly caring.”
Marina Hastings,
Shippensburg, PA
“The trip gave me the greatest life-long friends and I know
they will always be there for me.”
Kendal Diorio,
Huntersville, NC
“Past participants were not kidding, it really was the best
23 days of my life.”
Sydney Foster,
Germantown, MD
“TWB provided me with a new family I never imagined I’d have
a year ago.”
Grace Kisting,
Mooresville, NC
“This trip has taught me perseverance, discipline, and most
importantly, how to have fun!”
Sarah Giang, Belmont,
NC
“I have so much appreciation for where we live and how great
our country is and going on this trip have me a better view of how great it really
is.”
Garrett Voorhees,
Gastonia, NC
“TWB is like a movie, don’t fall asleep because when you
wake up at the end you will wish you stayed up.”
Chris Kurtiak,
Gastonia, NC
“Landmark of my childhood and an experience of a lifetime.”
Jacob Woods, Atlanta,
GA
“I really enjoyed this trip and I had so much fun with all
my new friends.”
Devin Cooke,
Mooresville, NC
“Although challenging at times, this has been my greatest
life adventure.”
Reagan Griffin, Monroe,
NC
“Sure, it’s an experience to see the west but the best
experience is being with all the amazing people.”
Lauren Humann,
Rockingham, NC
“I didn’t believe how close I would really get with these
people, but now they’re my family.”
Ella Wilson,
Wilmington, NC
“I’ve been so lucky to go on this trip and would highly
recommend it to anyone considering it.”
Sam Shepard, Sanford,
NC
“Connecting with people is one of the best things in life,
and this trip allows you to connect with people you’ll never forget.”
Harrison Miller,
Greenville, NC
“This trip has been a major point in my life as I learned
more about myself and others around me as well as making friends that I will
never forget.”
Henry Current,
Gastonia, NC
“TWB has given me a disciplined mindset, a love for the USA,
and new lifelong friends.”
Emma Lawing, Concord,
NC
“This was a fun adventure filled with many life trials that strengthen
you as a person.”
Abbey Curtis, Gastonia,
NC
“TWB has changed me both mentally and physically and has
given me a new perspective on life.”
Emily Dotson, Catawba,
NC
“This trip taught me that I have so much to be thankful for
at home.”
Charley Inabinet,
Franklin, NC
“It’s pretty wild.”
Bryton Holland,
Belmont, NC
“Nobody can explain what we experienced together these past
23 days – it’s indescribable.”
Olivia Peters, Myrtle
Beach, SC
“TWB is the best experience with the best people.”
Millie Dukes, Myrtle Beach,
SC
“You might struggle, get homesick, or even cry, but in the
end, none of that can outweigh the laughs, friendships, and memories made in an
experience like Teens Westward Bound.”
Reanna Wilmouth,
Reidsville, NC
“While expecting the places we’ve traveled, the memories,
emotions, and a new family were part of the unexpected.”
Kailee McAlister, Belmont, NCTWB is the best thing I have ever done! I don’t want to go home!” – Jessie Curtis, Gastonia
“TWB is an incredible experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world!” – Phoebe Gilmore, Mathews
“TWB is the greatest gift that God has given me. It taught me what it meant to truly live and gave me new happiness and a second family” – Hannah Rock, Wilmington
“More life changing than I was expecting” – Sierra Lawing, Cherryville
“TWB was an amazing trip that taught me lots of life lessons and showed me the beauty of the US and gave me friendships that I never wanted to end!” – Danielle Hahn, Mooresville
“Greatest adventure you will ever take” – Grant Waddell, Tyron
“This trip helped me gain a brand new perspective on getting to know people and learning how to escape the pressures of the modern world.” – Aubrey Spicola, Iron Station
“TWB has helped me appreciate the small things in life and to see how beautiful our country is!” – Cade Hastings, Crouse
“TWB is one of the biggest blessings I have been given, and nothing will ever compare.” – Acerah Strickland, Lumberton
“TWB is a life changing trip that helps open your perspective outside of your hometown and helps you become more appreciative of what you have.” – Maddie Powell, Reidsville
“Going on this trip has been one of my best decisions, I wouldn’t trade these people for the world.” – Lilly Myers, Belmont, NC
“It’s not about the places you travel that makes the most amazing experience, it’s the people.” – Gracie Crocker, Union
“Through TWB I have made a new family that has my back. TWB has rewarded me with self confidence and pride, through setting up my sleeping bag and being drenched when waking up. It’s also showed me how to be selfless instinctively for others and that something I will never learn anywhere else other than on Teens Westward Bound.” Marc Chroback, Denver
“Thank you so much guys for a trip of a lifetime.” – Cole Languell, Davidson
“It’s not the places that make the trip it’s the people” – Emma Hooks, Whiteville
“TWB is an amazing experience, that teaches you how to make a ton of different string bracelets, how to cook in mass quantity and low quality, and how to form bonds that last a lifetime.” – Ashleigh Stocks, Whiteville
“The trip is what you make is and a bad attitude will get you nowhere” – Anna Riley Gutierrez, Charlotte
“I recommend this trip to someone who’s seeking adventure!” – Madisen Snipes, Mooresville
“TWB taught me so many valuable life lessons and helped me create friendships that will last a lifetime.” – Olivia Wagner, Denver
“TWB showed me I could do more than I ever realized I could, and made me more independent all around” – Anna Gregory, Union
“Yes! The places are great but the friends you will make are better!” – Brina Childers, Union
“Going on TWB not only showed me America, but it showed me that it doesn’t matter how many friends you have, but how genuine your friends are.” – Olivia Jones (OJ), Denver
“TWB allowed me to learn more in 23 days than I have my whole life.” – Ruthie Brock, Clinton
“Enjoy the experience and always have a positively open mind, because if you don’t you won’t enjoy yourself.” – Mabry Sumner, Charlotte
“Get as much sleep as possible and enjoy it you don’t get a lot.” – Sam McConnell, Mooresville
“TWB is great and so much fun!” – Logan Allen, Mt. Holly
“You will have the time of your life kids!!!” – Hayden Armstrong, Gastonia
“TWB, thank you for the experience of a lifetime!” – Alayna Hogston, Gastonia
“These memories will last a lifetime!” - Casey Gore, Gastonia
