Sarah Catherine, 25, is originally from Brentwood, Tennessee, and now calls Charlotte, North Carolina, home. A Clemson University graduate working as an accountant, she brings an energetic, encouraging leadership style and a love for adventure to Moondance. After leading South Africa + Mozambique, Spain + Morocco, and most recently Iceland, she returns for her fourth summer, with experience leading students across a wide range of landscapes and cultures. Her servant leadership mindset and naturally upbeat presence help her create a supportive environment where students feel encouraged to take on challenges and celebrate one another. We’re thrilled to welcome Sarah Catherine back for another summer of adventure, laughter, and connection!
A Life-Changing “Yes”
By Sarah Catherine O’Connell
November 1, 2026
This summer will be my fourth leading with Moondance. Each summer, around 200 leaders and 2,200 students come together, all with different backgrounds and goals, but with one thing in common: at some point, we all said yes.
I work in public accounting as an auditor, and my day-to-day life could hardly look more different from a Moondance summer. In my final interview for my job, they asked me, “You don’t have any accounting experience. Why should we hire you?” I was so excited to answer this question. I confidently explained that the lessons I learned leading trips show up in how I approach challenges at work. I learned to reframe problems, think quickly on my feet, practice resourcefulness, and navigate the unexpected. More than anything, Moondance has taught me that investing in people and building relationships is never time wasted. I hope I’m a better team member at work and a better friend outside of work because of these experiences.
In the corporate world, there can be a certain expectation that you should follow a straight line. Taking an entire summer away from work or forgoing an internship to lead might not fit neatly into that picture. However, the lessons learned through Moondance shouldn’t be undersold in favor of traditional “real-world experience.”
And then there’s the feeling that keeps pulling me back. I’ve never felt more alive, grounded, or purposeful than I do on a Moondance trip. Every decision is centered around a simple question: How can we make today the best day ever? The best day ever might start with a freezing morning with snow on the mountain and end with a piñata hanging from a trekking pole for a birthday celebration. It might mean using the extra-mile budget to buy gigantic pool floats on the side of the road in Morocco to celebrate a full-group summit. It might mean swimming alongside a pod of dolphins off the coast of Mozambique. But the real “best day ever” is getting to watch our students push themselves, find confidence they didn’t know they had, and discover joy in unimaginable places.
I’ll never forget reaching the crest of a ridge in the Highlands of Iceland. It had poured on us for hours, we’d crossed freezing rivers, and we were twelve miles into the day. When we reached the top, we looked down into a gorgeous valley where we’d be camping for the night. We were absolutely giddy. There was just enough snow to slide down on our butts, and suddenly, the giggles far outweighed the cold toes and tired legs.
Usually, gratitude is something I recognize in hindsight, when I’m looking back on an experience. But standing on that ridge with my incredible co-leader, watching our students laugh and yap their way down a snowy hillside, I felt such immense gratitude right then. I thought: This has to be as good as it gets. This is the best day ever.
That’s what keeps me coming back. For students and leaders alike, that first yes might lead somewhere entirely different than they ever imagined. I’m beyond grateful for everyone who has said yes to an experience that might look unconventional but ends up shaping all of us in ways we never could have anticipated. Some of the best things in life start with a simple yes.
