Seagulls Village - Higher Ground Adenture

Other HGA Experiences

Higher Ground Adventure (HGA)

Seven in Twenty Seconds

By Buffy L. #7

My experience in the Higher Ground Adventure started out unlike any other day, the events that took place in those three days have changed my outlook on life.

Growing up, I was one of those kids who was handed pretty much everything to succeed, but never quite seized the opportunity to take advantage of it. Before I came to Seagulls fifteen months ago, I wasn’t doing much with my life. I took everything I had for granted, not to mention my family, and even at one point decided to throw in the towel when I tried to commit suicide. That right there says a lot about me, when the going gets tough – I give up.

We were now in front of the gate that led to our camp. I was just one of the twenty-four participants; we were twenty-two (22) from Seagulls and two (2) from another rehabilitation facility, CARE. Honestly speaking, I was very nervous and I didn’t know what to expect in the days ahead. Several days before, we were briefed by Ate Chit, the only thing (“pabaon”) she gave us was “So, just expect the unexpected okay!” That actually made me very curious. So I asked myself, “What is with this experience?” Now I was about to find out for myself.

I was no longer called by my nickname ‘Buffy’. Now I felt how it was for everything to be taken away from me. I had no name, no status, nothing. I was just a mere digit #7, lucky number seven.

I knew I was physically fit, but the activities were tests of everything a man is built on – physical, emotional, and mental strength. “Fire is the test of gold, adversity is the test of strong men”. In some activities, I just wanted to give up and turn the other way.

The pain settled in, but every hurdle represented a stage in my life. I figured I have been running away from everything in my life, and I am so sick and tired of being this way, lost without any direction. I braved whatever I was feeling and asked myself this question “Is my life still worthwhile?” I had tears flowing down my face. I didn’t even care anymore what other people might think.

Right then and there, my life flashed before my eyes.

I saw my entire life in less than twenty seconds and the sequence of events

that brought me here until the present day.

In life, when things become turbulent, the natural thing to do is to just let go. I guess that would apply to things like letting go of past hurts or the reckless driver who cut you this morning, but one should never ever let go of the rope or the life that it represents.

This experience has brought out the best and worst in me. Now I know what I am truly made of. I know that I still have a very long road ahead of me in the quest of sustaining my sobriety.

Last year, during my 19th birthday, my doctor lent me a book she had kept during her college years in Ateneo. She pointed out a beautiful quotation from the book “The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck that sums up HGA for me. “Life is difficult. Once we truly realize and understand that life is difficult. The fact that life is difficult no longer matters because we have accepted it.” HGA has given me a better understanding of the dynamics of life. I know for a fact that what I’ve learned here is something not even Yale or LSE can offer but it’s definitely beyond that, believe me.

ALABANG HEAD OFFICE		SEAGULLS' HOUSE AT THE RIDGE
Unit 504 Park Trade Center, 1716 Investment Drive, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City Philippines		Brgy. Neogan, Aguinaldo Highway, Tagaytay City, Philippines
sffialabang@seagullsvillage.org		sffitagaytay@seagullsvillage.org
+63 (2) 809-4847, 809-8776		+63 (922) 833-7255
+63 (922) 833-7256		+63 (919) 850-0989

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.