06/19/2023
Good morning.
We are sure many of you are still sleeping. We cannot believe we were in Iceland yesterday and in our beds last night. But how can I complain when I woke up to this cutie staring me in the face?
We hope you all had a great time. Now that you are back in your comfort zone, rested, we hope you will be saying things like, “I walked on a glacier, lava, soaked in the Blue Lagoon,” etc. We hope these experiences stay with you for your lifetime, and maybe give you the travel bug. If you do like seeing the world, don’t wait to do it. You think you will have the time, money, energy…time has a way of sneaking up on you. There will always be something in your life vying for your attention and money. Much of it can wait.
Even the moments you didn’t like were good for you. Getting out of your comfort zone, pushing yourself to try new foods, hearing the answer no when you thought it should be yes, seeing the sights when you were tired, cold and cranky—all good for you. A lot of your peers lack coping skills. Emotional intelligence attributes to 70% of your success in your life. You and your families just gave you experience in developing those skills. You see, these trips do so much more than allowing you to see the world.
We watched you all and saw students comforting others, including people who are not part of your group, even something as simple as lifting a carry on to put in the overhead compartment for someone who had trouble trying to lift it. It wasn’t all about you and you demonstrated kindness and how to work together. It was difficult in some instances, and didn’t always happen, but we got through it even when emotions were running high. Getting along with others is the hardest thing to do and we got through it unscathed. For the rest of your lives, you will have to deal with people who you may not choose to associate with outside of work and family. Practicing how to regulate your emotions during those moments puts you ahead of others who have not had a chance to put it into practice.
Kudos to the parents who were nervous but sent their kids anyway. It allowed your child to grow. They have to learn how to function on their own. This trip was great for you and for them.
Have a wonderful rest of your summer. Many of you have a lot of exciting plans in front of you! Please keep Mr. Z. and me posted on your life and all the successes you have in front of you. We didn’t get to pray every day on the trip, but we pray that your life will be amazing. Thank you for traveling with us.
—Mr. Zelenky and Mrs. Mulhollan
AKA AJ and Melissa 🇮🇸✈️❄️🎣🐏🐴
