UNIT 5: Our Experiences

GETTING STARTED

Experiences in Da Lat

1. Listen and read.

Tom: Hi, Mi. I've been back from Da Lat. I have some local specialities for you.

Mi: Thanks, Tom. I guess you and your family had a great time there.

Tom: Yeah, We visited Langbiang Mountain and Cu Lan Village. We saw a gong show in the evening.

Mi: What did you do on Langbiang Mountain?

Tom: We rode a jeep to the top. It was a thrilling ride up there. Then we took an eco-tour of Langbiang Mountain. They said that the area is rich in flora and fauna with more than 150 plant and animal species.

Mi: Sounds amazing! What did you do then?

Tom: We took pictures of the magnificent scenery, It was really enjoyable!

Mi: Then did you explore Cu Lan Village?

Tom: Yes. We had a brilliant tour around the village. We also rode horses and a jeep along a stream.

Mi: That must have been exciting, Tom.

Tom: It definitely was. In the evening, we saw an interesting gong show. We danced and sang with the locals. And we tried grilled pork. It was a really memorable evening. I'll show you some pictures I took there.

Mi: Cool!

2. Read the conversation again and tick (✔) T (True) or F (False).

Answer:

1. F - Mi and Tom had a great time in Da Lat.

Explain:

Tom: Hi, Mi. I've been back from Da Lat. I have some local specialities for you.

Mi: Thanks, Tom. I guess you and your family had a great time there.

2. T - Tom had an eco-tour of Langbiang Mountain.

Explain: Tom: Then we took an eco-tour of Langbiang Mountain.

3. T - There are more than 150 plant and animal species on Langbiang Mountain.

Explain: Tom: They said that the area is rich in flora and fauna with more than 150 plant and animal species.

4. F - Tom didn't like his experiences in Cu Lan Village.

Explain

Mi: That must have been exciting, Tom.

Tom: It definitely was ... It was a really memorable evening.

5. T - Tom danced and sang with the local people at a gong show.

Explain: Tom: In the evening, we saw an interesting gong show. We danced and sang with the locals. And we tried grilled pork.

3. Write activities under the pictures

Answer:

1. riding a jeep (lái xe jeep)

2. seeing a gong show (xem biểu diễn cồng chiêng)

3. taking photos (chụp ảnh)

4. dancing with local people (nhảy múa cùng người dân địa phương)

5. taking an eco-tour (tham gia một chuyến du lịch sinh thái)

6. exploring a site (khám phá một địa điểm)

4. Read the conversation again and match the activities with the adjectives.

Answer:

1 – b. riding a jeep: thrilling

Explain: We rode a jeep to the top. It was a thrilling ride up there.

2 – d. seeing a gong show: interesting

Explain: In the evening, we saw an interesting gong show.

3 – c. taking an eco-tour: amazing

Explain

Tom: Then we took an eco-tour of Langbiang Mountain.

Mi: Sounds amazing!

4 – e. exploring a site: brilliant

Explain:

Mi: Then did you explore Cu Lan Village?

Tom: Yes. We had a brilliant tour around the village.

5 – a. taking pictures: enjoyable

Explain: We took pictures of the magnificent scenery, It was really enjoyable!

5. Work in groups. Carry out a survey. Then report your group's findings to the class.

Do you like…?

Answer:

Học sinh dựa vào tình hình thực tế trên lớp để điền vào bảng khảo sát

A CLOSER LOOK 1

VOCABULARY

1. Write an activity next to each picture.

Answer:

1. touring a campus - (tham quan khuôn viên trường)

2. going snorkelling - (đi lặn với ống thở)

3. learning by rote - (học thuộc lòng, học vẹt)

4. putting up tents - (dựng lều)

5. giving a performance - (biểu diễn)

2. Complete each sentence with an adjective in the box.

1. He felt _______ when he couldn't protect himself from bullying.

2. The parachute jump was a(n) _______ experience for the boy. He was so excited.

3. It was so _______ to view the mountain range from the distance.

4. I had a(n) _______ experience when I took her bag by mistake.

5. Tom had a(n) _______ experience putting up a tent in the rain.

Answer:

1. helpless - He felt helpless when he couldn't protect himself from bullying.

2. exhilarating - The parachute jump was a(n) exhilarating experience for the boy. He was so excited.

3. amazing- It was so amazing to view the mountain range from the distance.

4. embarrassing - I had an embarrassing experience when I took her bag by mistake.

5. unpleasant - Tom had an unpleasant experience putting up a tent in the rain.

3. Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D.

1. His mind _______ when I asked him how to do the homework.

A. went blank

B. went empty

C. became exhausted

D. put up

2. Students could see the university's facilities when they _______.

A. took an excursion

B. toured the campus

C. gave a performance

D. took an eco-tour

3. Snorkelling in the coral reef is a(n) _______.

A. touching moment

B. happy time

C. exciting experience

D. embarrassing moment

4. Nam and his friends felt _______ when they couldn't put up a tent by themselves.

A. pleasant

B. embarrassing

C. embarrassed

D. pleased

5. I didn't understand the lesson. I learnt it _______.

A. on purpose

B. by chance

C. with memory

D. by rote

Answer:

1. A - His mind went blank when I asked him how to do the homework.

2. B - Students could see the university's facilities when they toured the campus.

3. C - Snorkelling in the coral reef is an exciting experience.

4. C - Nam and his friends felt embarrassed when they couldn't put up a tent by themselves.

5. D - I didn't understand the lesson. I learnt it by rote.

PRONUNCIATION

/j/ and /w/

4. Listen and repeat the words. Pay attention to the sounds /j/ and /w/.

Answer:

5. Listen to the sentences. Underline the words with /j/ and circle the words with /w/. Practise the sentences.

1. He tried sailing a yacht, and he did it well.

2. We've made a class yearbook. It looks wonderful.

3. They awarded him a gold medal yesterday.

4. Youngsters should be aware of their responsibilities.

5. They haven't yet learnt about the role of wildlife.

Answer:

1. He tried sailing a yacht, and he did it well.

yacht /jɒt/

well /wel/

2. We've made a class yearbook. It looks wonderful.

We've /ˈwiːv/

yearbook /ˈjɪə.bʊk/

wonderful /ˈwʌn.də.fəl/

3. They awarded him a gold medal yesterday.

awarded /əˈwɔːdid/

yesterday /ˈjes.tə.deɪ/

4. Youngsters should be aware of their responsibilities.

Youngsters /ˈjʌŋ.stər/

aware /əˈweər/

5. They haven't yet learnt about the role of wildlife.

yet /jet/

wildlife /ˈwaɪld.laɪf/

(Từ có chứa âm /j/ được gạch dưới, từ có chứa âm /w/ được bôi vàng)

A CLOSER LOOK 2

GRAMMAR

The present perfect

1. Write the correct forms of the verbs in the table.

Answer:

2. Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in the present perfect.

1. We (join) _______ that project.

2. I (play) _______ a computer game at his house once.

3. She _______ never (work) _______ in such an unpleasant workplace.

4. He _______ never (be) _______ a class monitor.

5. They (go) _______ birdwatching several times.

Answer:

1. have joined - We have joined that project

2. have played - I have played a computer game at his house once.

3. has….worked - She has never worked in such an unpleasant workplace.

4. has …. been - He has never been a class monitor.

5. have gone - They have gone birdwatching several times.

3. Choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D to complete each sentence.

1. We _______ in our school's sports competition once.

A. participate

B. have participated

C. has participated

D. are participating

2. Nam _______ any photos of his village for two years.

A. has not taken

B. have not taken

C. does not take

D. is taking

3. They _______ detective stories several times.

A. were reading

B. read

C. has rea

D. have rea

4. I _______ never _______ that film before.

A. did; watched

B. has; watched

C. have; watched

D. was, watching

5. She _______ her cousin since she left school.

A. haven't met

B. doesn't meet

C. hasn't met

D. didn't meet

Answer:

1. B - We have participated in our school's sports competition once.

2. A - Nam has not taken any photos of his village for two years.

3. D - They have read detective stories several times.

4. C - I have never watched that film before.

5. C - She hasn't met her cousin since she left school.

4. Write sentences about Mai's experiences, using the information in the table.

Example: Mai hasn't visited a village of an ethnic group.

Answer:

1. Mai hasn't climbed a mountain. - (Mai chưa leo núi.)

2. Mai has seen an elephant. - (Mai đã nhìn thấy một con voi.)

3. Mai hasn't joined a tribal dance. - (Mai chưa tham gia điệu nhảy dân tộc.)

4. Mai hasn't taken a photo of a forest.- (Mai chưa chụp ảnh rừng.)

5. Mai has gone on an eco-tour. - (Mai đã đi du lịch sinh thái.)

5. Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about your experiences using the present perfect.

Example: (Ví dụ)

A: Have you visited a village of an ethnic group?

B: Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.

Answer:

1. Have you ever traveled to another country?

Yes, I have. I've traveled to Japan and France.

2. Have you ever tried scuba diving?

No, I haven't. But I would love to try it someday.

3. Have you ever eaten sushi?

Yes, I have. I tried it last year, and it was delicious.

4. Have you ever seen a live concert?

Yes, I have. I've seen several live concerts, including one by my favorite band.

COMMUNICATION

Everyday English

Apologizing and responding

1. Listen and read the conversations. Pay attention to highlighted parts

Answer:

2. Work in pairs. Make similar conversations with the following situations.

1. You submit your project after the deadline.

2. You came home later than you promised your mum

Answer:

1. You submit your project after the deadline.

Student: Can I still submit my project? I’m really sorry. I missed the deadline because I had some technical issues

Teacher: That’s okay, just make sure to submit is as soon as possible

2. You came home later than you promised your mum

Son: Can I come in? I’m really sorry. I came home later than I promised because I lost track of time with my friend

Mother: It’s Ok, just make sure to let me know the next time if you’ll be late

Experiences of your class camping day

3. Read the posts by three friends about their camping activities and match their names with the experiences.

Answer:

1. Mai - b, e

b. a terrible experience at the campsite (Explain: Mai: It was actually a terrible day for me)

e. an experience of watching team building activities (Explain: I couldn't join any team building games at all. I have never experienced such helplessness.)

2. Tom - a, f

a. exciting experiences in an area (Explain: I haven't had many exciting experiences like that before. We got to a beautiful site in Ninh Bình.)

f. a relaxing bike riding experience ( Explain: Tom: We also hired bikes and cycled around the area. It was so relaxing.)

3. Minh - c, d

c. a brilliant experience by the sea (Explain: Minh: I had a brilliant experience by the sea with my class last year.)

d. an exhilarating experience of snorkelling (Explain: Minh: In the afternoon an instructor taught some of us snorkelling. It was exhilarating)

4. Work in pairs. Ask and answer questions about the experiences of Mai, Tom, and Minh. You can use the questions below

• Where did she/he go?

• What did she/he do?

• How was his/hẻ experiences?

• Has she/he ever had that experience before?

Answer:

1.

A: Where did Mai go?

B: She went camping.

A: What did she do?

B: She slipped and hurt her ankle, had to stay inside her tent, and couldn't join team building games.

A: How was her experience?

B: Her experience was terrible.

A: Has she ever had that experience before?

B: No, she hasn't never experienced such helplessness.

2.

A: Where did Tom go?

B: He went to a beautiful site in Ninh Bình.

A: What did he do?

B: He put up tents, did team building activities, and hired bikes to cycle around the area.

A: How was his experience?

B: His experience was relaxing.

A: Has he ever had that experience before?

B: No, he hasn't had many exciting experiences like that before.

3.

A: Where did Minh go?

B: He went by the sea.

A: What did he do?

B: He joined team building activities in the morning and went snorkeling in the afternoon to see a coral reef and many types of colourful fishes swimming around.

A: How was his experience?

B: His experience was exhilarating.

A: Has he ever had that experience before?

B: No, he hasn’t. It’s the best experience he’s ever had.

5. Work in groups. Take turns to ask and answer about one another's experiences of a trip he/she has had. Use similar questions to those in 4.

Example:

A: Where did you go?

B: I went to ....

C: What did you do?

B: I climbed ...

Answer:

A: Where did you go?

B: I went to the mountains last weekend

A: What did you do?

B: I went hiking and took a lot of a pictures

A: How were your experiences?

B: It was amazing and I really enjoyed the fresh air and stunning views

A: Have you ever had that experience before?

B: No, it was the first time hiking in the mountains

SKILL 1

READING

1. Tick (✔) the experiences you have had.

- Joining a performance

- Attending an army course

- Travelling to a new place without parents

Answer:

✔ Joining a performance (Tham gia một buổi biểu diễn)

✔ Attending an army course (Tham gia một khóa học quân sự)

✔ Travelling to a new place without parents (Đi du lịch đến một nơi mới mà không có bố mẹ)

2. Read the texts and choose the correct answer A, B, C, D

1. Duong and Akiko talked about _______.

A. their English summer courses

B. experiences at summer courses

C. activities in summer

D. their army training

2. What didn't Duong do during his course?

A. Get up early.

B. Work as a leader.

C. Receive letters from home.

D. Work in teams.

3. The word "theme" means _______

A. performance

B. environment

C. activity

D. topic

4. The experience at Rockefeller Centre was _______ for Akiko.

A. unforgettable

B. enjoyable

C. special

D. touching

5. The word "That" refers to _______.

A. travelling to America

B. touring the Thornwood campus

C. visiting Rockefeller Centre

D. viewing the city below

Answer:

1. B - Duong and Akiko talked about experiences at summer courses

Explain:

Duong:

I had a hard 10-day course in an army camp in Son Tay last summer.

Akiko:

I have been on an unforgettable summer course in America

2. B. Work as a leader.

Explain:

Dương: We had to wake up at 5 a.m and attended classes which were like training courses for soldiers. In the evening, we read books or worked in teams….We also had touching moments when we received letters from our parents. I have never attended such a strict but exciting course like this.)

3. D. - The word "theme" means topic

Explain: Dương: We also joined a performance that had the theme: environment protection

4. B - The experience at Rockefeller Centre was special for Akiko.

Explain:

Akiko: The most special experience was my visit to the top of Rockefeller Centre

5. The word "That" refers to traveling to America

Explain: I have been on an unforgettable summer course in America….That was the first time I travelled without my parents, so I felt like I grew up a lot after the trip.

3. Read the texts again and tick (v) Duong or Akiko.

Answer:

1 - Akiko. attending an English course

Explain: We had an enjoyable campus tour, attended English classes, and joined team activities.

2 - Duong. attending an army-like course

Explain: I had a hard 10-day course in an army camp in Son Tay last summer.

3 - Duong. joining a performance

Explain: We also joined a performance that had the theme: environment protection.

4 - Akiko. touring a campus

Thông tin: We had an enjoyable campus tour, attended English classes, and joined team activities.

5 - Duong. receiving letters from home

Explain: We also had touching moments when we received letters from our parents

SPEAKING

4. Match the questions in A with the answers in B. Share your answers with a classmate.

Answer:

1 - c. What course did you attend? - I attended a course on soft skills with a group of young trainers.

2 - a. When was that? - It was in June.

3 - d. What did you do? - We worked in groups on different projects. We also learned to solve problems. We had various experiences.

4 - e. What do you remember most about it? - I remember being so embarrassed at first. But the trainers and my peers were great and they helped me a lot.

5 - b. How did you feel? - I felt that I grew up a lot after that course.

5. Work in pairs. Ask and answer about a course you have experienced. Use the questions in 4 as cues. Then report your partner's answers to the class.

Example:

Minh attended a memorable summer course last year. It was a presentation skills course. He learnt......

Answer:

Person A: What course did you attend?

Person B: I attended a photography course.

Person A: When was that?

Person B: It was last summer.

Person A: What did you do?

Person B: I learned about different camera settings, lighting techniques, and composition. We also went on several field trips to practice taking photos.

Person A: What do you remember most about it?

Person B: I remember the field trips the most. We went to some beautiful locations, and I was able to capture some amazing shots. The instructor was also very helpful and gave great feedback on our work.

- Reporting to the class:

Person A: My partner attended a photography course last summer. During the course, they learned about camera settings, lighting techniques, and composition. They also went on field trips to practice taking photos. What they remember most about the course are the field trips to beautiful locations where they captured amazing shots and received helpful feedback from the instructor.

SKILL 2

LISTENING

1. Which of the following is a bad experience?

- failing an exam

- being bullied

- winning a competition

- lacking confidence

Answer:

A bad experience would be:

• failing an exam (trượt một kỳ thi): Failing an exam can be disheartening and stressful. It might lead to a loss of confidence and can have serious implications for one's academic and career aspirations. The pressure to succeed can make the failure feel even more significant, causing emotional distress and anxiety.

• being bullied (bị bắt nạt): Being bullied is a deeply negative experience that can have long-lasting effects on an individual’s mental and emotional well-being. It can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety, and can significantly impact a person’s self-esteem and sense of safety. Bullying can also interfere with academic performance and social relationships.

• lacking confidence (thiếu tự tin): Lacking confidence can hinder personal and professional growth. It can prevent individuals from taking risks, seizing opportunities, and fully participating in various aspects of life. This can lead to missed opportunities, underachievement, and a general sense of dissatisfaction or unhappiness.

2. Listen to the conversation between Minh and his dad and tick (✔) T (True) or F (False).

Answer:

1 – F ; 2 – F ; 3 – T ; 4 – T ; 5 – F

3. Listen again and choose the correct answer A, B, or C.

1. Dad and Minh are talking about ______.

A. dad's experience

B. Minh's experience

C. experiences of Minh and his dad

2. Dad's classmates often ______ him.

A. bullied

B. helped

C. argued with

3. Minh's dad ______ the bullies.

A. ran away from

B. shouted at

C. fought

4. Minh got a low mark because he ______.

A. reviewed the lesson

B. learnt the lesson by rote

C. learnt the lesson by heart

Answer:

1 – C ; 2 – A ; 3 – C ; 4 – B

WRITING

4. Work in pairs. Put the phrases from the box in the correct column.

a. taking wrong things

b. doing community service

c. not revising lessons

e. arguing with a friend

f. coming to school late

Answer:

5. Write a paragraph (100-120 words) about the most pleasant or unpleasant experience you have had at school.

Start as follows:

Answer:

I still remember the most unpleasant experience I have had at school. It was when I failed my math exam in the ninth grade. I had studied hard, but I found the questions much harder than I expected. When I saw my failing grade, I felt devastated and embarrassed. My friends tried to comfort me, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of disappointment. It made me doubt my abilities and lose confidence in my studies. However, this experience taught me the importance of resilience and seeking help when needed. I started attending extra tutoring sessions and gradually improved my math skills. In the end, this unpleasant experience turned into a valuable lesson in perseverance and self-improvement.

resilience and seeking help when needed. I started attending extra tutoring sessions and gradually improved my math skills. In the end, this unpleasant experience turned into a valuable lesson in perseverance and self-improvement.

LOOKING BACK

VOCABULARY

1. Use the adjectives in the box to describe the experiences. Add any other adjectives you can think of.

1. riding a jeep up to the mountain top

______________________________________

2. touring an area with mountains and villages

______________________________________

3. being bullied

______________________________________

4. joining team building activities

______________________________________

5. not revising previous lessons before the exams

______________________________________

Answer:

1. riding a jeep up to the mountain top: exhilarating, thrilling, special, exciting, memorable,

(đi xe jeep lên đỉnh núi: phấn khởi, hồi hộp, đặc biệt, thú vị, đáng nhớ)

2. touring an area with mountains and villages: exciting, amazing, memorable, brilliant, picturesque, enchanting

(tham quan một khu vực có núi và làng: thú vị, tuyệt vời, đáng nhớ, rực rỡ, đẹp như tranh vẽ, mê hoặc)

3. being bullied: embarrassing, helpless, distressing

(bị bắt nạt: xấu hổ, bất lực, đau khổ)

4. joining team building activities: exciting, memorable

(tham gia các hoạt động xây dựng đội nhóm: sôi động, đáng nhớ)

5. not revising previous lessons before the exams: unpleasant, embarrassing, regrettable (khó chịu, xấu hổ, đáng tiếc)

2. Complete the sentences with the phrases in the box

1. I couldn't answer her questions because I just _______.

2. My mind suddenly _______ when she asked me about our plan.

3. The most memorable part of our picnic was _______ by the mountain.

4. We are now more aware of environmental protection after we took _______.

5. After we joined _______, we all got closer to each other

Answer:

1. learnt it by rote - I couldn't answer her questions because I just learnt it by rote. (Tôi không thể trả lời câu hỏi của cô ấy vì tôi chỉ học thuộc lòng.)

2. went blank - My mind suddenly went blank when she asked me about our plan. (Đầu óc tôi đột nhiên trống rỗng khi cô ấy hỏi tôi về kế hoạch của chúng tôi.)

3. exploring a site - The most memorable part of our picnic was exploring a site by the mountain. (Phần đáng nhớ nhất trong chuyến dã ngoại của chúng tôi là khám phá một địa điểm bên núi.)

4. an eco - tour - We are now more aware of environmental protection after we took an eco-tour. (Bây giờ chúng tôi nhận thức rõ hơn về việc bảo vệ môi trường sau khi tham gia chuyến du lịch sinh thái.)

5.team building activities - After we joined team building activities, we all got closer to each other (Sau khi tham gia các hoạt động nhóm, tất cả chúng tôi đã xích lại gần nhau hơn)

GRAMMAR

3. Complete the sentences with the correct present perfect forms of the verbs in brackets.

1. I (invite) _______ some of my friends to my birthday party.

2. _______ the students (finish) _______ all their assignments yet?

3. Their children (never be) _______ village before. out of their

4. He won't go to the cinema tonight. He (see) _______ that film already.

5. She (not cook) _______ for herself before, so she is not sure about what to do first.

Answer:

1. have invited - I have invited some of my friends to my birthday party.

2. Have …. finished - Have the students finished all their assignments yet?

3. have never been - Their children have never been out of their village before.

4.has seen - He won't go to the cinema tonight. He has seen that film already.

5. has not cooked - She has not cooked for herself before, so she is not sure about what to do first.

4. Put the verbs in brackets in the present perfect to complete the letter.

Dear Nick,

How are you? Are you having a good time in Ha Noi? We're having a great time here in London. We (1. be) _______ for four days and we (2. do) _______ interesting things. We (3 visit) _______ the Tower of London and (4. watch) _______ the traditional Changing of the Guard. It was so wonderful to see it and I took a lot of pictures too. We also (5. have) _______ a ride on the famous London Eye. We were excited to view the whole city. We haven't checked out the Windsor Castle yet. We also (6. make) _______ a plan to visit Windsor Castle and Stonehenge, so we're going there tomorrow. We can't wait to explore the Windsor Castle and the prehistoric monument - Stonehenge.

See you next week,

Akiko

Answer:

1 - have been

2- have done

3- have visited

4- have watched

5- have had

6- have made

Dear Nick,

How are you? Are you having a good time in Ha Noi? We're having a great time here in London. We (1) have been for four days and we (2) have done interesting things. We (3) have visited the Tower of London and (4) have watched the traditional Changing of the Guard. It was so wonderful to see it and I took a lot of pictures too. We also (5) have had a ride on the famous London Eye. We were excited to view the whole city. We haven't checked out the Windsor Castle yet. We also (6) have made a plan to visit Windsor Castle and Stonehenge, so we're going there tomorrow. We can't wait to explore the Windsor Castle and the prehistoric monument - Stonehenge.

See you next week,

Akiko

PROJECT

Your most memorable experience

Work individually

1. Think of your most memorable experience. Use the questions below.

- What is the experience?

- When did it happen?

- What did you do then?

- How did you feel?

- Why is it your most memorable experience?

Answer:

1. What is the experience?

My most memorable experience is my solo backpacking trip through Vietnam.

2. When did it happen?

It happened last summer.

3. What did you do then?

During the trip, I explored various cities, wandering through bustling markets, hiking up scenic trails, and immersing myself in different cultures.

4. How did you feel?

I felt exhilarated and liberated, free from the constraints of routine life.

5. Why is it your most memorable experience?

This experience stands out to me because it was a time of self-discovery and growth. It broadened my perspective, instilled in me a sense of independence, and taught me valuable life lessons.

2. Make a poster of your experience with pictures or photos

Answer:

3. Present it to your class

Answer:

Reflecting on my most memorable experience, it was undoubtedly my solo backpacking trip through Vietnam. It happened last summer. I embarked on this journey alone, exploring various cities for several weeks. Each day was filled with new adventures, from wandering through bustling markets to hiking up scenic trails. I felt exhilarated and liberated, free from the constraints of routine life. This experience stands out to me because it was a time of self-discovery and growth. I learned to navigate unfamiliar territories, interact with people from diverse backgrounds, and embrace spontaneity. It not only broadened my perspective but also instilled in me a sense of independence and resilience that I carry with me to this day.