Leadership Series: Part 3 of 7

What do they do with all of those skills?

This "Leadership Series" hopes to answer this question for seven Leadership alumni, one each week until the next Leadership Semester course begins on April 2nd.

Click to read about:

Leadership Alumnus #1, Sean Marr

Leadership Alumnae #2, Amy Nicolson

Leadership Alumna #3: Heidi Ruckriegle

Leadership Course: 2009, Fall Semester

Hometown: Breckenridge, CO

University: University of Colorado, Boulder

Currently: After her Costa Rica Outward Bound Leadership course last fall, Heidi was asked to work as an instructor this fall. She is currently leading the Tri-Country Semester course, and she has 44 more days with her nine students!

Reasons Enrolled: Education was her key priority, but she wanted a break in between undergrad and law school. Heidi wanted to feel productive in this year off. When she found the Costa Rica Outward Bound Leadership course, she was immediately attracted to its experiential education, Spanish development, international travel opportunity, and its athletic challenges.

Future Aspirations: Heidi wants to go to law school next, and she finds out if DU or CU accepts her into their programs in April! In the long term, she wants to run a library/gallery café in Colorado someday. This venue would be a comforting and relaxing cafe to which local artists and authors could submit their work and get exposure.

Favorite Course Moment: Every moment in which Heidi was heading to a new place and had a time to reflect on the beautiful surroundings. For example, in the vans viewing the countryside, rafting down a tranquil river section admiring the riverbanks and cliffs, and admiring a mountain range on a long hike.

Quote: "Nothing is impossible…. The biggest thing I learned is that the human body is capable of anything… and overcoming any challenge."

The Costa Rica Outward Bound Leadership Semester is meant to prepare students in such a way that they can use the skills they develop to use in a career and/or any leadership role. This 60-day experience consists of: earning nine internationally-recognized certifications and 12 school credits; learning how to surf, kayak, raft, rappel, camp, and scuba dive; and facing the challenges and responsibilities involved with any Outward Bound course.