Cliff jumping was a nerve wracking experience that has given me the courage to overcome situations greater than myself. I never thought I had it in me to jump sixty feet in the air, into what could have been an abyss. This past summer, I experienced this life changing moment in which I only hope to relive.
I was invited to be a counselor at a camp in Montana with my friend and her family for a month. My mom agreeingly let me go because she knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I could not bare to miss out on. I thought it would be hard to not be around my mom for a month considering I had depended on her most of my life, but it surprisingly was not that difficult to adjust to. I never faced the “homesick” feelings, but rather embraced the new opportunities that awaited me.
When I arrived, I was welcomed with hugs and smiles. The people I encountered were so kindhearted. As camp went on, I became more self-reliant since I did not have much authority while I was counseling. It was up to me to wake not only myself up, but my entire cabin. Every sense of worry vanished because I had solutions to every problem on the tip of my tongue. When social media failed, social interactions prevailed. When I became dismayed, a letter of encouragement was sent my way. I adjusted quickly to the new environment, and it was not hard to accomplish this either, considering the environment surrounding me was the perfect place to dwell in; I went hiking, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and tubing. However, the most exhilarating experience of all was going cliff jumping in Canada.
Fortine, Montana was just miles away from the border of Canada. My friend’s family and I stayed in Cranbrook for a few days. During our stay, our host family took us to a waterfall where I made the decision to jump sixty feet into this freezing cold river. I had never made such a big decision in my life. I initially thought that if I did not take the jump, I would forever regret it. Such uncertainty did not sit well with me. It may have felt life threatening at the time, but conquering this fear would eventually show me how much more I could overcome. Looking back on this incident, I do not live with the fear of obstacles limiting my ability to thrive. I continue to persevere.
Ultimately, I believe this experience helped mold me into this undefeated individual who is constantly striving to improve. My mother having let me go on this journey shows the amount of strength she knows I am capable of. Not many mothers give their children the sense of hope that they can be alone or independent. It shows the growth I am well deserved and the determination that I have always had. Having gone miles away and becoming distant to my regular life shows the amount of struggle I can overcome. Today, I am a person who is strong, responsible, capable, independent, and most importantly, daring. Being daring is an important quality to have. While it sounds like “dangerous,” being daring should not be perceived as bad. Being daring is the equivalent to being courageous, adventurous, and bold. I am now someone who takes action. Instead of merely saying I will do something, I do it doubtlessly.
I am certain this trip allowed me to grow in aspects of my life that were not evidently strong. I was proud that this experience gave me a sense of independence that could not be found elsewhere. For once, I felt free to make a decision that would later make me feel fearless.
