Awardee Reflection - Lilah Curnow

I was sitting on my bed, giving my dog Max some much needed love and affection while messaging my best friends in our ‘Absolutely Based’ group chat. My mum walked in, giddier than normal. She told me I was going to Vietnam for the ANZAC Spirit School Prize.

I was very confused. I hadn’t won. 

She told me all about what happened: one of the winners couldn’t attend, freeing a spot for me, the next runner up. My hands instantly became all clammy and sweaty. She handed me a printout of the itinerary with a smile on her face, then gave me a huge hug. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

I didn’t want to go.

It was scary to admit that. I thought everyone would be disappointed in me. I had never been on a plane before, I had never even been out of the state. Staying away from my family and loved ones for two whole weeks with a bunch of strangers sounded like a nightmare. When people I knew asked if I was excited, I lied. I told them I couldn’t wait. That it was a dream come true!

But it wasn’t.

As the day came closer to meeting the group at the airport, I became more anxious. I would plead to my mum, begging her to let me stay home instead. She had to tell me over and over again that it was too late for that now. I cried. I felt like I was drowning. That it would be a horrible experience.

I was wrong.

On the very first day at the airport, my whole perspective changed. After my tearful goodbye to my parents, I was immediately shoved into the reality that I was going and there was no turning back. I saw something I didn’t expect.

I was greeted with smiling, friendly faces.

I guess I was nervous that everyone was going to know each other already, since I was a last-minute addition and had never met the group before. I was so relieved to be wrong. I was welcomed into the group with open arms. It took me a matter of hours to make friends, when I was scared I wouldn’t the entire trip.

As the trip continued, we became a close-knit family.

We would all hang out together, making life-long memories and friendships. We were all in this together. Through all the illness, exhaustion, and homesickness, we picked each other up through everything. We truly became one big "sticky rice" family!

There were laughs, tears, and sooooooo many photos taken in the beautiful country of Vietnam.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone on such a life-changing trip, even if I wasn’t supposed to have gone in the first place. I met incredible people, ate some of the best food of my entire life, and experienced things I otherwise never would have. I am so glad I tried my best each and every day to look on the positives and remain grateful for everything I have.

Thank you Vietnam.