Being the blogger for the last day of Shad Valley is an interesting predicament. On one hand, you have the terrible burden of summarizing a very short day – a half day in fact. Yet you also have the wonderful opportunity of explaining what Shad Valley really is about.
The day immediately started after the awesome variety show the day prior. At 12:00 am, the Program Directors and Program Assistants led the Shadults down to the basement of the First Baptist Church. In the pitch-black room, our coordinator Jeremy led us in an emotional exercise where Shads anonymously thanked their friends by tapping them on the shoulder.
We were later led into a discussion about the effects Shad Valley had on us. After obtaining a glowing lamp, the courageous volunteer would stand up and address the crowd about what the program meant to him or her. It was an emotional experience, with frequent bursts of sobbing from members of the crowd. The thought-provoking speeches by our wonderful staff did not help either. After the faucet of tears went dry, we went back into the Cameron Room, where we spent the rest of the night (technically morning?) signing month books and crying some more. We left Howe Hall, sad to leave our friends behind, but excited for what was to come.
So what is Shad Valley? Is it the trips? The lectures? The games? Shadditude? The truth is, Shad Valley can be many things to many people. For me, it meant acceptance and encouragement, and the willingness to jump outside my comfort zone. Nowhere else will you find a group of such friendly and like-minded people.
Shad Valley is a paradigm shift. It’s a catalyst for change. It transforms you to do things you never thought possible. In the memorable words of our leader Jeremy, I discovered that, after Shad Valley… I’m not the me I used to be.
Joshua Tseng-Tham, Shad Valley Dalhousie 2012
