While most of her classmates spent senior year writing college essays and anxiously awaiting acceptance letters, Maureen Rojewski (12) has known where she’s headed since junior year. And it isn’t college.
Instead of taking classes at a university this September, Rojewski will spend her first year out of high school with 13 strangers on the remote coast of Baja California, Mexico. Her adventure includes three month-long phases: backpacking through the mountains, kayaking along the coast and sailing on the Sea of Cortez. There will be no phones, no bed and no home-cooked meals — just a backpack full of essentials.
“It’s going to be challenging both physically and mentally,” Rojewski said. “You’re hiking all day with a heavy backpack and then sleeping every night in a tent. It’s hard to know you’re so far from the outside world.”
Rojewski has been surrounded by nature from day one. From attending an outdoor-focused preschool to regular camping trips with her family, she’s always preferred to be outside.
“My dad’s super outdoorsy,” Rojewski said. “I would always tag along with him on fishing trips or whatever he was up to. I was also enrolled in an outdoor-focused preschool. It really fostered my love for being outside.”
The trip is part of a semester-long program through the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). The NOLS is a nonprofit organization that offers nature expeditions around the world to help people build their leadership skills.
Rojewski’s path to NOLS was inspired by her cousins, who have both completed similar programs. NOLS has a variety of programs of different lengths, locations and seasons. Rojewski has always loved swimming and the beach, so when choosing which to do, she knew she wanted something warm and on the water. The semester in Baja turned out to be a perfect fit.
“Summer in Michigan is my favorite time,” Rojewski said. “I wanted to try and incorporate that as much as I could into this program. I’ve gone camping, backpacking, sailing and kayaking to the extent that most Michiganders do, but never to the extent that it’s just a month straight of doing that.”
Over the past few months, Rojewski has been hitting the gym regularly, focusing on cardio and strength training to prepare for long days of hiking and carrying a heavy pack. She’s also been learning Spanish online and gradually gathering the right gear.
“I’ve been slowly stockpiling clothing and supplies,” Rojewski said. “Because there’s no laundry, everything has to be really durable and easy to clean. I took a sailing course too to feel more prepared.”
Even after the expedition ends, her year of adventure isn’t over. In December, she’ll join her family on a trip to Costa Rica, then travel solo to Germany to visit her former foreign exchange students.
Once Rojewski has returned to the US, she plans to continue her job as a lifeguard at the Hannah Community Center, saving money and planning for what comes next. Her goal is to continue to enroll in a four-year university and graduate in 2030 with a degree in education.
“I’m glad I gave myself the space to explore,” Rojewski said. “This time will help me figure out what I want to do and give me more purpose when I do go to college.”
Rojewski knows her choice stands out. In a city like East Lansing where Michigan State University is central to the community, heading straight to college is the norm.
“There’s a stigma — especially in a college town like this — around not going to college right away,” Rojewksi said. “A lot of people have told me they wish they had done something like this. I’m glad I listened to what felt right.”
