AOL Back to School

Outward Bound's educational programs provide life-changing experiences in remote wilderness settings, city parks and classrooms across the country. In addition to its many multi-week outdoor expeditions throughout the year, Outward Bound also works directly with schools in underserved communities to deliver on its proven expeditionary learning model, emphasizing high academic achievement through real-world learning, character development and quality school culture. As we celebrate the success of our summer courses and prepare to serve students across the U.S. in the coming school year, we hope you will want to learn more about the important work of Outward Bound.

Read Estiven's inspirational story

For Estiven, back to school meant facing new challenges every day

Estiven Rodriguez, a student at WHEELS— a New York City Outward Bound Schools member— was featured in President Obama's 2014 State of the Union. He watched the State of the Union live, as a guest of First Lady Michelle Obama.

"Estiven Rodriguez couldn't speak a word of English when he moved to New York City at age 9. But last December, thanks to the support of great teachers and an innovative tutoring program, he led a march of his classmates through a crowd of cheering parents and neighbors from their high school to the post office, where they mailed off their college applications. And this son of a factory worker just found out he's going to college this fall."

Estiven told his story at the New York City Outward Bound Schools Gala in May 2014, when he presented the Educational Leadership Award to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"My name is Estiven Rodriguez, and I am a senior at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School – also known as WHEELS – which is part of the NYC Outward Bound Schools network.

I moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of 9. I I remember feeling overwhelmed in my classes, wondering when English would stop being "not-Spanish" and start being "English." I relied on basic survival phrases:

Can you help me with...?
No, thank you.
How do you say...?

I also learned a very convenient sentence. I would say, 'Take it easy on me because I don't know English.' But my teachers at WHEELS didn't fall for that. My science teacher, Ms. Peek, said 'I'm not going to take it easy on you. You're going to work hard or you're not going to succeed.'

Ms. Peek wasn't mad. I wasn't in trouble. She was just right. Later that week, she held up my science exam on kinetic and potential energy for everyone to see. I had scored a 75%. In English. It wasn't the highest score in the class. But it was progress, and she wanted to encourage me. I still have that exam today.

When I entered 10th grade, my work was steadily improving. But nobody seemed to notice. During a reading of Macbeth, I complained that I had to work harder than everyone else to grasp the language. Unfortunately, Ms. Batke overheard me and replied, 'Nobody cares how hard it is for you. Because you arrived in the US just five years ago, you have to decide. Work the same as everyone else and fail? Or work harder than everyone else and succeed'

Let me be honest: WHEELS is not a soft place. But when teachers praise us, we know we've earned it.

Today, I am honored to be the recipient of a full-tuition, four-year Posse scholarship to Dickinson College and the first student in the NYC Outward Bound network to be featured in a President's State of the Union address.

Everybody asks me what it was like to be in the State of the Union Address. Honestly? It was humbling to have so many eyes on me. Because there are thousands of other students across the country who are like me. Who have had their own challenging roads to travel, but whose schools expected more of them."

Estiven Rodriguez (New York, NY) Student, Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School

Estiven Rodriguez is the son a Dominican immigrant and arrived in the United States when he was nine years old, speaking no English. When he entered Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS) in the sixth grade, he still spoke and understood very limited English. Estiven graduated last spring as one of the top students in his class and will attend Dickinson College in the fall on a Posse Foundation Scholarship, making him a first-generation college student. "At only 16, 17 years old, he, in many ways, embodies the spirit of a life-long learner. He is a model student," said Erick Espin, Estiven's 11th grade United States history teacher. Outside of his academic studies, Estiven was also a member of the school's math club, and soccer and track teams.

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