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We were delighted to host Sarah Outen MBE at College on Saturday 2nd December. Students from LC3 to SFC2 heard Sarah’s talk, ‘Dare to Do’, in which she spoke about her incredible four-and-a-half-year journey around the world, rowing, kayaking and cycling from London to London

Sarah spoke of her adventures with all the ups and the downs. Stories of storms at sea, a lack of human contact for six months, and tales of people she met along the way, captivated the audience. Sarah’s determination to complete her journey was incredible.

Her talk was interspersed with clips from a documentary she filmed whilst on her travels, which took us to the heart of the varying emotions she felt. We were also fascinated to hear about Sarah’s life upon returning to England, where she now spends time with her four donkeys and is training to be a therapist- something that she describes as her next great adventure.

Sarah holds the record as the youngest person to complete a solo crossing of not only the Indian Ocean, but the Pacific Ocean; from Japan to Alaska. She also completed a round-the-world journey by means of bicycle, kayak, and rowing boat.

At the age of 21, Sarah tragically lost her father; this journey she chose to embark upon was, in her own words, to ‘navigate an ocean of grief and transform it into something positive’, in memory of her father. Sarah explained that she felt if she could journey across the world, she could accomplish anything and make her way to a more settled place.

As if answering the enraptured audience’s silent question, Sarah explained that this intention was only made a reality by her ‘this is what I’m going to do’ attitude. She brought this attitude with her to the sea, despite facing a ten-day setback caused by an unpredicted wind change. Sarah was determined to complete her journey, saying that the setback was ‘seen not as failure’, but as an opportunity to improve her approach.

I am sure that I speak for many when I say that I am in awe of her strength of mind. I was particularly taken with Sarah’s advice on dealing with fear, ‘name it’ she said, ‘and find a solution - we all have our storms and we all need support and take time to recover in order to progress’. Sarah emphasised the importance of knowing when to ask for help, and just how powerful we can be when we collaborate - it reveals the potential in everyone.

When asked if she had always had this sense of adventure, Sarah smiled, and recounted a fond childhood memory of exploring a tree in her garden; she added, ‘there is an adventure for everyone’ implying that not every adventure has to be as extreme and world record breaking as hers. There is an adventure to be found anywhere, so long as we are ‘curious, open minded and up for a challenge’.

What an empowering and inspirational woman. Thank you so much Sarah, we hope very much that you come back to CLC to tell us about the next phase of your journey.

Anna, UC5

Dr Woolstenhulme
Teacher of Religious Studies and Philosophy and Teacher in Charge of Academic Scholarship: Enrichment