It was a glistening, boiling, summer day at the end of June 2021. I was in a large Mexican underwater cave called a cenote. This cenote wasn't like others; it had a high jump. This jump was very intimidating, but little did I know this would be a super incredible experience for my family and I.

As I wandered in, the ground was slippery. It was a hot day, so I wished to get in the water as soon as I could, but we still had to get settled. The place was so packed; there was barely anywhere to put my stuff. The first thing I noticed was that there was the highest jump I have ever seen! There were stairs going up to the jump because it was so high. I wanted to jump off it, but my parents insisted that I go for a shorter jump before I took a big risk like that. I sarcastically said to my sister, “hey, you should go on that jump with me!”

My sister let out a chuckle, “yeah, I'll pass.” I jumped off, gradually getting higher and higher until I felt ready. My dad hopped off the high jump, and that compelled me to go even more. I asked my parents if I could go now, and they said as long as I was careful, I could.

I slowly walked up the slippery steps with my dad. When I got there, I was very nervous. I observed that there were many rocks, and if I made one wrong move, well… My dad jumped off first and explained to me how easy it was. My dad was recording me, so I couldn't let him down. I thought to myself, it's okay, you can do this.  Your dad did it, so you can do it as well. I looked down in the depths of the dark glistening water.

I took a big deep breath and put my feet up to the slippery edge. Everybody was staring at me, and there were other people in line waiting for me to go. I jumped. My eyes were closed; I could feel the speed pulling me down to the water. I feel my body suddenly punch the water. I could feel my body sinking, and I started to get anxious. I tried to come up from under the deep water, but I didn't feel the air. I started to get nervous, and I kept swimming upwards very quickly. I reached the surface, and I finally gasped for air and an exhale of relief.

Finally! I did it! And I couldn't believe it, but it was… fun! I rushed to where my family had settled, and I described to them how amusing everything was! Even my sister started debating whether to do it or not. My sister was indecisive for a while, and I was getting impatient. I said, “I'm just going to go up there again.” As I reached the top, my dad said not to go. I was confused as to why my dad didn't want me to go, so I asked why. My dad grinned, but he didn't say anything. He just pointed at the algae-covered, slippery steps. There I saw my sister smiling, coming up the stairs to jump with us. My dad jumped off again, and he made a come-over motion with his hands.

My sister said she wanted to go second, so I let her go up. She was about to jump, and then she stepped back and said, “I don't know.” I told her that if she wouldn’t go, I would. But then she just told me that she would go. I said, “okayyy, if you say so.” My sister went for it; she jumped. I saw her come back up to the surface, and she smiled. I let out a big smile,“I told you it was fun!”

After that, my sister and I continued laughing, having so much fun on the jump. After being so anxious about it, I had one of the most fun and most memorable experiences I couldn't have ever imagined! This showed me that you will never know something if you don't try. I wouldn't have ever had such an incredible and memorable time if I never tried.

 

 

 

 

-Hailey T.