Dear Drew...One Year Later

When Drew was in Antarctica last year, the students had to write a letter to themselves that would be posted at a later date. All last week, fellow students were posting on fb that they were finally receiving their letters. Drew anxiously checked the mail every day, but nothing came. Finally, on Friday, his arrived. It came on the 18th - the same date that he arrived home last year!

Drew,

I'm writing this to you from the MV Ushuaia. The date is January 8th, 2012 and you are on your way back from Antarctica, currently in the Drake Passage. You'e just experience one of the most amazing two weeks of your life - you travelled along the Antarctic Peninsula and different islands off the coast, making many landings. I hope that you never forget this experience!

It's been one year since you wrote this. It's kind of a strange feeling knowing that I'll be reading this. I hope that I have made a difference in the world by now. I know one year isn't a lot of time, but you're Drew. You have the ability to make a difference and, if you haven't done something, let this be a gentle reminder to get your act together and start.

You have had the amazing opportunity to travel to the bottom of the world - not many people have that opportunity so embrace and use it to your advantage. I hope this letter inspires you and renews your motivation.

You will have just finished your first year of University and hopefully passed!!! However, if you are unhappy with your life, pack up and leave. Go out in the world and find yourself and rejuvenate. Go back to the Antarctic, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or walk the Camino de Santiago. Mum won't like that you are leaving. She'll be sad but she will understand.

Stay true to yourself,

From the past,

Drew Gibbons

There were some many fantastic, awe-inspiring and incredible photos taken in Antarctica. Drew chose these 5 to enter a world wide competition to win a new camera and gear and go on a week's expedition in Oman with a famous National Geographic photographer.