Leadership Academy

Leadership Academy was the most amazing, transformative, physically and mentally challenging week of my life. For a whole week I, along with other members of DARA, traveled to the mountains in the middle of Pennsylvania, with no cell phones allowed and fully disconnected from the outside world. We hiked close to 50 miles that week. Uphill, we carried military backpacks, tents and I even carried the community stove. We camped outside, had 6 am wake up calls and showered three times throughout the course of the week. This trip taught me so much about myself. It reinforced the belief that I can lead and encourage others to be their best selves all while staying mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically sharp and balanced myself.