The Life-Changing Trip to the River

The Trip to the River and Meeting an Extraordinary Woman

We all need someone to guide us, whether it's a parent, friend or celebrity. Perhaps you have more than one; I certainly do. I'm going to be telling you about one amazing woman in my life. We met her on a river and happened to live near one another. Thank you E.L.F Cosmetics for this opportunity to reflect back on such a special moment. 

It's been two years since a raft guide changed my life. Hogan is a student who attends our town's university, and our personalities clicked. Know that I'm a shy kid. If I don't know anyone I'll stay quiet, but she wouldn't allow it. Hogan drew me out of my shyness and encouraged me to participate in the safety talk. 

Allowing her to throw a bag of rope at me was just the beginning of Hogan's mentorship. Not only has she been a mentor, but also an inspiration and friend alike. During the trip she gave my brother and I the opportunity to guide the raft down whitewater rapids. This was a life-changing moment. My brother politely declined, but I accepted. From then on I looked up to her.

I clambered over my family to the back of the raft, where Hogan began teaching me. Being 12 at the time I wasn't strong enough to do much, but there she sat next to me using her heavy, sparkly-blue paddle to make corrections. Still, I managed to learn a bit, and best of all ... we didn't run into any rocks! Helping navigate the raft with Hogans's gentle voice in the background brought an exhilarating feeling of confidence and strength.  Sooner than I wished, the trip was over, but it was long enough to begin a strong friendship.

Our relationship has grown tremendously, even as COVID-19 continues to affect our daily lives.  I'm adopted from China and don't speak Mandarin myself, but I still have Mandarin flashcards hanging from the ceiling in my room. I'd never heard Mandarin spoken in my home, but one day Hogan started flipping through them. It was such a remarkable moment to hear the language of my infancy spoken to me by this new friend of mine! She may not know this, but that was one of the other interactions that I hold deeply in my heart.

These 500 words are all for a simple "Thank You". Thank you to the woman who has taught me about rafting and giving me a new passion, but also for giving me a glimpse into a language that I would've grown up with. Hogan, you are an amazing woman.