Finding My Place in the World, Tegh’s Award Story

Meet Tegh, a Gold Award participant and a Passion to Purpose Alumni (Spring 2022) from Manitoba. Tegh has used the Award to find a place to belong and experience personal development.  

Adventurous Journey  

“During the spring of 2019, I led our group during the first hike of our Adventurous Journey. Noticing we hadn’t seen a trail marker in a while, my Award Leader stopped to ask me if I knew where we were going. Taking a good look around, I promptly replied, “No, not really.” Rest assured we found our way back to the trail. My journey with The Duke of Edinburgh Award has been filled with moments like this, some the triumph, others were learning moments, and many are hilarious to look back on. Despite the absurd number of tics we fought off during that Adventurous Journey, I am still happy that I joined my high school’s Duke of Ed program. 

Finding a place to Belong  

Freshman year was when I was looking for belonging in a new place, and our Award program gave me that sense of belonging. It seemed apparent to join at the time. I was already doing everything the Award encouraged participants to do, so why not gain recognition for it? However, some things the Award provided that I could not get elsewhere. My then teacher was the Award Leader for our program and is still a mentor for me to this day. I was given the opportunity to volunteer with my school’s community kitchen and take on a project to build garden beds and planter boxes at a local elementary school. The Award pushed me out of my comfort zone when it came time for my first adventurous journey. There was a lot of learning, character building, and fun to be had as we braved our planned route, used our survival skills, and forged lasting friendships! Although it was my first backwoods camping trip, I was sure it would not be my last. 

The Award Impact  

To say that The Duke of Edinburgh Award has impacted how I view the world would be an understatement. The Award has changed my development as a leader, my perception of community, and who I should strive to be. I cherish the memories of leading the way in my adventurous journey, finding ways to give back to the community during the pandemic, and creating ideas with global impact in my gold project. The skills and lessons that I have taken away from my experiences will aid and guide me in any trail I choose in life. I received the silver Award from the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. 

Why You Should Join 

If you aren’t sure about starting your Award journey, I implore you to try it yourself. We grow most when we step past our comfort levels, and I can confidently say that you will have nothing to lose by participating in the Award but a lot to gain.” 

• Tegh, Gold Award participant and a Passion to Purpose Alumni (Spring 2022)   

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