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<\/a><\/p>\nThe Gila River. Photo courtesy of Flickr.<\/a><\/p>\n The course was transformative in ways I did not anticipate. I have since thought of my life as pre- and post-NOLS. Many of my peers went on to work in the outdoor industry, and I was interested in pursuing that too. But after returning to college, I convinced myself the sensible choice was to channel my passion for sustainability into corporate social responsibility efforts.<\/p>\n Making the \u201cResponsible\u201d Choice<\/p>\n I took a class on leveraging organizations for social change, which encouraged us to consider our prospective careers. The professor for the course held office hours in his backyard, and I sat with him in the sun one day as we discussed my plans for the summer. I had recently accepted an internship at a bank to work on a newly formed responsible sourcing program. I\u2019d never planned to work in finance, but thought it might be impactful work, though I was sheepish in explaining that to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n He was perceptive, and sat for a moment before asking why I didn\u2019t want to pursue conservation or outdoor jobs, which seemed to be what I was passionate about. I didn\u2019t have a good answer.<\/p>\n My first month working back at the bank after graduation, I told an executive I would need to take a sabbatical in the next few years to thru hike the PCT. Nevertheless, I worked in corporate social responsibility for various finance organizations for seven years, and lived in Brooklyn for five. Though some of my work and life felt meaningful, I didn\u2019t yet have the confidence to act on what I truly wanted.<\/p>\n Brooklyn Bridge Park<\/p>\n A Watershed Moment<\/p>\n One day while walking to a climbing gym, I was listening to an interview with a woman who had formerly been in a cult. She said that on her first day there, they told her that she would feel uncomfortable and want to leave. But, they said, that was a sign she should stay, because growth is uncomfortable. I realized I\u2019d been using that tactic to convince myself to stay in places and situations that had not felt right to me for years on end.<\/p>\n It felt like every spare moment since NOLS I\u2019d been reading and listening to interviews with people who\u2019d had incredible adventures. Why couldn\u2019t that be me? I was doing the best I could with a corporate job in New York City to piece together section and day hikes on the weekends, but I knew I wanted more.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n