She Almost Came Home on Day One. Here's What Happened Instead.
Before her RLT trip even began, Mannat had a plan: If she didn’t like it, she’d just fly home the next day. What happened instead changed everything—for her future, and for the way she saw herself. Here’s her story, in her own words:
_"When I went on my first trip to Key Largo with RLT in 9th grade, I almost didn’t go. I told my mom that if I didn’t like it, I’d just fly home the next day.
The minute they took my phone after we landed, something shifted. Within 24 hours, I had made close friends with everyone — including my counselors. We had inside jokes by day three and were inseparable by day four.
Before that trip, I felt stuck. I struggled with depression, had no motivation, and no real idea what I wanted for my future. But that week, something clicked. I discovered scuba diving — and for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged.
On my next RLT trip to Belize, I pushed myself even further. I struggled through hiking (and learned to laugh about it), spent time with local families, and deepened my love for the ocean. Every experience made me stronger and more sure of who I wanted to be.
Now, I'm about to head to college in New Zealand to study Marine Biology.
I wouldn’t be who I am today without RLT. You gave me the opportunity to grow into a person I’m proud to be." — Mannat, RLT Alum
Letting Go Is Hard (But It Matters)
As parents, we spend years guiding, supporting, and protecting our kids. It’s natural to want to keep doing that forever. But real growth happens when we step back—and let them step forward.
When teens step away from their routines, their phones, and their familiar surroundings, they start asking bigger questions:
Who am I when no one’s telling me who to be?
What actually matters to me?
What future do I want for myself—not just what’s expected?
And when they find their answers, they don’t just change. We do, too.
Small Moments, Big Changes
It’s not the dramatic moments that change teens on an RLT trip. It’s the small ones. It’s tying a bootlace for a friend. It’s laughing around a campfire after a long day. It’s hiking side by side in the rain and realizing you’re stronger than you thought.
Real friendships and confidence are built naturally when teens work together, cook meals side by side, face challenges together, and simply live in real community.
On RLT trips, teens:
Haul stones for a village project in Peru
Care for wolves at a sanctuary in Colorado
Kayak along rugged coastlines in Alaska
It’s those shared experiences that help teens feel seen, valued, and connected—for who they really are.
Growth Isn’t Always Comfortable (And That's Okay)
If Mannat had left on Day One, she would have missed all of it. The inside jokes. The belonging. The first real sense of hope about her future.
The first few days of anything new are uncomfortable. That’s normal. Real growth almost always starts with discomfort. But when teens stick with it, they tap into a deeper strength—one that doesn’t just get them through a trip. It carries them through life.
They Come Home Changed—And So Do We
When teens come back more confident, independent, and alive with new passions, it’s not just their journey we celebrate. It’s ours, too. We learn to trust more. We let them show us who they’re becoming. We hold them a little more loosely—and a little more proudly.
And we realize: They’re more ready for what’s next than we thought.
And so are we.
It’s Not Too Late to Start Their Story
We still have a few spaces open for this summer. Whether your teen is nervous, excited, or somewhere in between, we’re here to meet them—and you—right where you are. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be willing to let them take the first step.
Schedule a quick, no-pressure call with our team.
We’ll answer your questions, help you find the right trip, and support you both every step of the way. Rather not wait? Call us at (773) 342-5200 or email info@theroadlesstraveled.com.