Daniel Smith is a hardworking instrumentation and controls technician at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. If you were to ask his fellow coworkers if he knew the value of teamwork, they would say, “Yes, of course.” But after this experience, Smith would not be so sure.

Smith recently completed the Rite of Passage Challenge. It is a 24-hour challenge designed by retired Navy Seal Chadd Wright meant specifically for teambuilding. In the challenge, you are only allowed to eat, drink or move. No sitting, no rest, no naps for 24 hours straight. Even through the night.

“It was one of the toughest things I’ve done in my life,” said Smith. “There were times I didn’t think I could keep going. I had to really rely on my team to continue and there were times they had to really rely on me.”

Learning to work as a team was a crucial part of the Rite of Passage experience. Smith came into this challenge not knowing any of his 23 teammates, but by the end, strangers became close friends.

“You really have to learn to rely on each other out there,” Smith explained. “There were moments when someone was struggling, and we all had to come together to make sure they were taken care of. It taught me that I can’t do everything on my own – there’s always someone willing to lend a hand.”

That sense of camaraderie and teamwork is something Smith has carried back to his day job. He wants to make sure that even when someone doesn’t ask for help, he is willing to lend a helping hand.

“This experience really reframed how I approach problems and challenges at work,” Smith said. “Instead of trying to tackle things on my own, I’m much more focused on bringing my team together, asking for help when I need it, and finding ways to support one another. We all need a little help sometimes and this challenge has made me realize it’s okay to ask for it.”