One of the most memorable moments of my life took place on a trip to Snow Summit. Having never boarded before, I spent most of my time adjusting to the bunny slopes where I discovered how difficult snowboarding really was. My first attempts at standing on my board led me to fall multiple times until at one point my whole body began to ache. Discouraged, I was at the brink of giving up when I decided to try an even harder course known as the Black Diamond.
I wasn’t quite sure what motivated to me to engage in such a perilous task. I was partly persuaded by my friends, but more swayed by my feelings of helplessness which made me willing to try anything different. So without fully considering the level of difficulty that I would face, I sat on the chair lift that took me to the peak of the mountain.
As the chair lift rose higher and higher, I realized how far I was ascending from the ground. To my surprise, however, I was mostly calm and curious as to what would await. Once I landed on the snow, however, I was in complete shock and disarray from viewing the steep slopes in front of me. I thought that there was absolutely no way that I would be able to get down the slopes. I told the people I was with that I would meet them at the bottom of the slope, when in reality I just needed time alone to think. Disheartened, I sat on the snow and contemplated on what I would do.
After a while, I started to grow impatient from just sitting idly and decided to get up and learn how to stand up on my board properly. My first attempts at finding my balance were dismal. I was still as bad as I had been on the bunny slopes except now I was forced to teach myself to become a better boarder. In the middle of nothing but snow, I had no other option but to learn how to ride down the steep slopes.The first slope that I came across literally had me slide the entire way. I felt so overpowered by the size of the mountain that I could not get myself to stand up. However after falling multiple times and getting back up, I finally started to get the hang of it.
Halfway through the course I was able to maneuver my board with more ease. I learned to balance and control my speed until I was able to smoothly go down the slopes this time without falling. Although at any other moment I would have been ecstatic for finally learning how to board, at this point I was more concerned with reaching the end of the course. When I finally caught a glimpse of the bottom of the slope, I felt light-hearted and happy. I was proud that I did something that I initially thought was impossible.
The day I spent alone on the snow taught me a valuable lesson of perseverance. I realized how important it is to get back up after each fall, and how just when you think it’s over, you begin to ride with ease. Today, I am more confident in my abilities and eager to confront the challenges that lie ahead of me.
Why do I do what I do? Every challenge is worth exploring, and ultimately overcoming.
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