The Young Leader

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Could You Hang Out With Maasai Warriors?

We all know that it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and experience the world through a different lens. It makes us more understanding, more compassionate—and it allows us to have a greater appreciation for individual cultures. It’s a philosophy that Global Leadership Adventures, along with countless other organizations, are based on, and it has been proven to have an impact time and time again.

This is why, when people travel from all across the globe to the Serengeti of Africa, they are excited to get a peek into the lives of the Maasai people. This semi-nomadic tribe is one of the most recognizable African ethnic groups, due to their colorful dress, traditions and their residence near popular game parks. And, thanks to a partnership with Warrior Trails at the Simangori Maasai Boma, GLA students have the opportunity to spend a weekend with the friendly tribe, experiencing their traditional practices, meals, dances and celebrations. It’s a highlight for every student who travels to Tanzania with GLA, and is an incredible opportunity to immerse in a culture so different from that of the western world.

Maasai Weekend: Journal from Day 1

Here’s what teenager Sunita, who visited the Maasai tribe with GLA this summer, had to say about her first day with these colorful, friendly people.

“This weekend we went to visit the Maasai tribe. What an incredible experience!

After a two-hour journey, we arrived and were greeted by a traditional dance. We were all gifted a bracelet and an authentic Maasai shawl, which we wore for the whole weekend. Following a hearty lunch, we headed to the newly opened school, where we saw students reciting the alphabet and numbers. After playing with the schoolchildren and watching them participate in running races, we gave them some gifts and then went on to learn some Maasai games and play together.

Later, we tried our hand at spear throwing! After a short demonstration from the warriors, we all tried our hand at killing the ‘lion’, which was really a sand bag. After that, we watched the warriors wrestle with each other, and some of our students decided to participate in the wrestling as well! We also played a traditional game that slightly resembled tag.

Afterward, we got to witness a lamb being slaughtered, although some students decided not to watch. I found it really interesting. Afterwards, we watched an amazing sunset, and sat down for a traditional Maasai dinner, which was incredible.

When the sun had gone down, the fire was lit, and the singing began! The male warriors made grunting noises whilst dancing and jumping, whilst the girls danced to the same tune. We sang and danced for hours, and learned some new dances, included charging at one another in two groups, which was very fun!

When it was finally time for bed, most of the students slept in the Maasai manner – under the stars – under the watchful eye of the warriors who protected us from lions and hyenas. It was an amazing ending to the perfect day in Tanzania.”

Getting There

If you want to experience the life of the Maasai tribe, careful planning is required. You’ll need to make arrangements with a tour operator or organization like Warrior Trails that facilitates visits. Or, if you’re planning on visiting Eastern Africa as a member of a longer program, be sure to ask whether or not visiting a Maasai boma is included. Global Leadership Adventures programs in Tanzania always include this experience.

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GLA Alum Demonstrates Impact of Teenage Travel

“I firmly believe that the more people who have the opportunity to learn about themselves and give back to others, the better off our world will be.”

–Adam Willis

Name: Adam Willis
Hometown: Berlin, MA
Education: University of Massachusetts, Class of 2017
Interests and Passions:
Firm believer that summertime means “no shoes unless you’re working”
Vegetable farmer on a 7th generation family farm in his hometown
Confirmation sponsor for two young Catholics
Transformational Experiences:
Children of China, Beijing
African Leadership and Service, Johannesburg
Service in the Sacred Valley, Peru
Making an Impact: Demonstrating the value of travel for personal and professional growth

It’s easy to miss how unique Adam Willis is when you first meet him.

Easygoing, a natural leader, and incredibly compassionate, he’s the type of young man who feels like he could be your neighbor or classmate. He plays basketball. He has a job. He can talk to anyone– and he makes an effort to do so.

When GLA Director of Admissions Jessica Miller initially met Adam, she saw “an all-American teen, eyes wide with curiosity, a deep intellect and an interest in Chinese culture and Mandarin language.”

He had just arrived in Beijing, China for his first GLA Program, and he had worked ardently to fundraise for the trip and convince his parents to allow him to go. By the end of his three weeks in China, “Adam had fully embraced exploring the world and had furthered his passion for the Chinese culture, and I realized how special he was. He threw himself completely into the experience- and it was reflected in his attitude and genuine appreciation.”

This love and appreciation for immersion in new cultures led Adam to travel on two additional GLA programs after his experience in China. South Africa and Peru were next on his list.

“One of the most amazing things about traveling and experiencing new cultures is the opportunity to have dialogue with those who are different than you. That level of diversity is a driving force in my passion for immersion in developing countries. I’ve learned so much about myself and opened up to the world around me. Every time I travel, I learn more about different people and places in the world- and it’s impossible to pick a favorite.”

Adam’s appreciation for travel is vast, and so is the lens through which he views the opportunities that await in his future.

“My GLA programs were incredibly eye-opening to me. From learning about the intense urban issues South Africa faces to hiking Machu Picchu, I grew to love the people and cultures that I experienced. I realized, though, that I couldn’t pick a favorite. There wasn’t one thing that stuck out to me, or one country where I knew I needed to focus my energy. Instead, my time spent with GLA gave me an appreciation for the process of being immersed in a new place. It’s an experience unlike any other.”

Thanks to his love for experiencing diverse cultures and spending time in developing countries, Adam is pursuing an International Fares Certificate (in addition to advanced language study in Spanish and Mandarin) at the University of Massachusetts. He hopes to use the lessons he has learned through travel to inspire others.

“Travel is all about opening yourself to new experiences and embracing the personal transformation that takes place. I don’t feel bound by the regions and cultures I’ve already been exposed to. Instead, I’ve come to realize that you can experience those same transformations in an infinite number of places- whether you’re on the other side of the world or in your hometown. You simply have to open yourself up to them.”

For now, Adam is continuing to learn as much as he can, while determining how best to transform his appreciation for travel and personal growth into a career.

“I’m still in the process of learning Mandarin, I am reading a book on Peru, and I’m wearing a bracelet that I bought in South Africa 2.5 years ago. GLA has completely impacted me, and completely impacted my attitude and goals for the future.”

He’ll keep that influence in mind as he moves forward.

“Who knows- maybe one day I’ll start my own service program. I firmly believe that the more people who have the opportunity to learn about themselves and give back to others, the better off our world will be.”

Programs Adam Attended:
Children of China, Beijing
African Leadership and Service, Johannesburg
Service in the Sacred Valley, Peru

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3 Myths: College Applications

Having interviewed candidates for Yale, my alma mater, I’m often asked by parents and students how Global Leadership Adventures can enhance a college application.  My standard response is to quote the Yale website: “Yalies set out to make our world better…We are looking for students…to become the leaders of their generation in whatever they wish to pursue.”

Great, but what in the world does that mean?!  How do high school students become leaders and make the world better?  Every year, parents and students misinterpret what colleges are looking for and invest time and energy into misguided pursuits.

While I don’t claim to know everything that happens in the admissions office, I’d like to dispel what I believe are three myths about college applications and summer programs.

Myth 1: Volunteering abroad helps you get into a good college

Simply volunteering abroad will not help you get into a good college.  Rather, it’s what you learn that can make a difference.  On a GLA program, you will volunteer in a developing country and experience a culture and lifestyle very different from your own in an authentic, non-touristy community.   In that environment, GLA teaches you to reflect on your experience:  How is this country different from yours?  How can you connect your knowledge and talents to those in need?  Where can your passion lead you?  This level of experience and reflection helps you unlock your passions and generate plenty of talking points for college essays.  That’s what colleges look for in a successful applicant.

Myth 2: Colleges define “leadership” as Student Council President, School Paper Editor, etc.

True, leadership is a key characteristic of the strongest applicants to top universities.  But it’s not just about accumulating a laundry list of titles.  It’s also about your level of maturity, the types of challenges you’ve faced, and a sustained commitment to helping others.  GLA believes leaders are made, not born.  Through group discussion, meaningful service, workshops, exposure to experts, and excursions, GLA students cultivate their leadership potential.  They  tackle tough questions, learn to welcome differing opinions, and  begin affecting change within themselves their communities, and the world.  That’s how colleges define leadership.

Myth 3: A so-so GPA or less-than-stellar SAT score will prevent you from getting into a good university.

Got some bad grades freshman year? Your GPA not quite where you want it to be?  Don’t worry, all hope is not lost!  There’s still time to turn things around.  Colleges absolutely do look at academic achievement.  However, they also want to see passion and a common thread that weaves throughout your application.  My college roommate at Yale had a so-so GPA, but was admitted for his non-academic achievements.

Do you like biology and animals?  Pursue that passion during the summer, whether it’s volunteering abroad to protect endangered species, starting an animal rights organization at school, or taking an advanced biology class at a local college.  That’s a concrete step towards turning it around.

I hope you found these insights useful and I welcome your feedback, anytime!

Sincerely, Mike Shangkuan

Managing Director – Global Leadership Adventures

About the author:  Mike Shangkuan graduated from Yale with a BA in Economics and received his MBA from the Harvard Business School.  He is currently Managing Director of Global Leadership Adventures.

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