How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard- Julie Zebrowska

Hey readers! For the last time this year, it's Julie posting about the amazing experience that is the Keener program.

To begin, I've had a few accomplishments that I'm proud of since my last blog. Last week, I ran Elevator Shaft, got my whitewater hand roll, surfed left side Phils, and did a loop for the first time. In addition, today we had our road trip to the Upper Petawawa. Paddling this beautiful river was an amazing opportunity, as it was new and refreshing, and taught me plenty of river running skills.

Running one of the biggest rapids on the Upper Petawawa

The highlight of the day was watching three Keeners get worked in a hole at the bottom of a rapid, which resulted in two swimmers, and lots of entertainment for those who got the privilege of spectating. If things weren't going well enough, I won Speech of the Night for the third time out of the six speech nights I've attended since starting in this program. But the glory of having the best speech isn't nearly as important as what I feel I've gained from speech night. As much as I hate public speaking, I can notice how much my confidence and comfort level have improved in regards to talking to my peers. I've grown to realize that everyone is in the same boat, (no pun intended) so nobody will judge me if I fumble. This has really help me overcome my fear of public speaking, and I'm much more comfortable discussing improvised ideas.

As we all know, this is unfortunately my final blog of the year Since I've never been skilled at writing conclusions or aging goodbyes, I just want all my coaches and fellow Keeners to know how grateful I am of their support, motivation, kindness, patience, and friendship. I have never felt to welcomed or at home as as I feel here. I've learned so much, and have so many memorable moments to take away from this experience. This isn't a "goodbye", since goodbye means forever. Instead, this is a "'till next time",  until I get to come back next year for another awesome session of bonding, boating, and beat downs.
-Julie

Keeners: Behind the Scenes

Hey guys! Julie Zebrowska here. It's been a while since my last blog. Exactly a year actually. I'm back at Keeners for another awesome session! The thing I'm most excited about for my time here is spending time with both the new and old friends I've made here. The friendly atmosphere and the relationships I've built here are a big part of why I keep coming back. Even though it may not sound special to some of you, it's really the small moments where we enjoy each others company that matter most to me. Like when we get to dance and have a laugh on the bus ride back to the takeout. Or when you find out you have something in common with someone else. These brief moments of interaction seem so simple, yet it's astonishing how far the go towards creating a bond with the other Keeners.

Unfortunately, the pleasures of kayaking aren't what I'm here to talk about today. A lot of posts on this blog talk about great accomplishments, new experiences, as well as memorable moments during one's time in the Keener program. However. there are plenty of times where one endures hardships and frustrations. As part of the learning process, it's guaranteed that I was going to make plenty of mistakes. Often, these mistakes take a toll on both your body and mind. Waking up early in the morning with a plethora of cut, bruises, and body aches is less than pleasant. But what some people overlook when they think about whitewater kayaking is how draining it is emotionally. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone feels this way. I've met paddlers who have no fear of the water, or of the consequences of making a mistake. On the other hand, I have to conquer my fears during every rapid, and every surf. In my opinion, paddling is terrifying. I'm afraid that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Maybe the adrenaline rush I get from overcoming these fears every time is why I enjoy it so much. Since I'm constantly setting new goals for myself, I feel like it's a great confidence builder. From my last time here, I've learned to stop comparing myself to other Keeners while on the river. Instead of being hard on myself for not being at their level yet, I can feel proud of the small things I achieve like catching a new wave for the first time, or running a new line that scares me. Keeping realistic expectations for myself keeps me from getting too discouraged if things don't work out the way I planned.

It's only been two days, so I have lots left to learn. I'll keep all of you up to date on my experiences here, and I'll see you guys again next week! 

-Julie