Since I've come back from Skye I feel as if it's been a challenge.  As if you have been throwing things at us.  Having arguments and stuff with friends happened  a lot when I came back but I didn't take them up on it I just let it go and didn't let it bother me.  I've realised that if I let it bother me it just gets to you inside.  When I arrived back from Skye I had a pleasant surprise - I always thought I would never make it good in maths and we had sat 3rd yr exams before we came up to Skye.  One of the things we had talked about amongst ourselves was how we run ourselves down about grades in school  and stuff.  The maths teacher told me the day we went back to school that I had done well and he was pleased with my mark in my exam - a 2!  I was so pleased and I guess that I had shown to myself that anything is possibe.  All I have to do is believe in myself and I will achieve anything. I now know that I will.  And now believe in myself and think that I'll give it my best shot and know that whatever I get I should be proud of it.

Without my visit to Columba I would have never have learnt this !

We have also become more friendly - especially myself, Kelly, Darryle and Toni.  One thing that I think will make our friendship different and special from other friends is the experience that we went through with each other and what we achieved with each other.  As I said up in Skye I have more trust in everyone that was up there than I have in my own friends - and nothing has changed. 

I think I drove my family crazy speaking about the experiences and my thoughts at certain things.  I've still not to this day told them everything that happened ... because there is simply just to much.  Certain figures and colours will trigger memories and I then relive them inside my head and share them again. No one although realises how much they mean to me as I think no matter how much we tell people and explain it they will never be able to understand because you have to go through the experience to no what it feels like.

On Monday of this week 15 from my school and 15 from Castlemilk High got picked to go to Strathclyde Uni to participate in a Summer Academy with other schools.  It just so happened that I got picked and so did Rachel and Kayleigh.  We shared the same bus and its nice speaking to them.  In a way a lot of the activities felt like the Columban challenges but they cannot even be compared to them !

Its been nice just talking about silly moments and daft wee things we all talked about in Skye that we never would have thought of discussing before.

The memory which meant the most to me was the graduation ceremony when Willie graduated me - the things he said about me where so nice and really emotional.  Simple things silly things that I thought noone had noticed he did notice and it was nice knowing that someone had been listening to me and appreciating my thoughts and feelings. I just found it very nice and I only laughed because I found it emotionally funny.  I didn't realise I had given so much away!

Since coming back to school we've spoke about changes that could be made and I've really tried my best to treat people the way that I was treated in Skye. I've tried and continuing to do so, I only hope that they can realise how much it does for you. 

I'm missing everything about Columba, but I think that I have changed as a person - and I'm sure it is for the best.  I've not changed physically I've changed mentally - the way I look at things, and my whole perspective on life I think has changed.

This experience was one in a million, a lifetime opportunity that I will never in a million years EVER forget.  I am so glad I had the opportunity, that I got picked, and that everything that happened did happen.  I believe now that everything happens for a reason in life - one that we just have to live with.  That feeling that I had at the end of the first day climbing the Old Man of Storr and the sense of achievement I had then has never to this day left me - I actually think that the feeling has gotten better.  I can only hope that it stays with me for the rest of my life and continues to grow!  I look forward to sharing and telling my thoughts with other people or other columbans and I am always willing to listen to people and learn from others.

I wish to thank you all again for allowing me to experience this and without you I wouldn't be feeling the way I am just now.  One day when I AM a journalist and succeed in my lifetime goals and ambitions I will write about this experience and share it with others. 

To Put it in Glaswegian terms it wis sum buzz and pure hevii amazing!