Have you ever done something you didn’t know you could do? It surprises you, making you more confident and independent. Most people usually only take these risks to gain the precious confidence. I was one of these people, and it was way out of my comfort zone.

       There is a place called Treetop Adventure. It is an outdoor “play area” with obstacle courses. What is the most anguishing part? The obstacles are buried in trees. To make things even worse, there is a river, solemn and distraught, gushing under. It feels like if you miss a string, you fall into lava. One of the courses just happens to be right over this stream. It has you plunge off a wooden platform in a harness and zipline into a net. While clutching to the lanky monstrosity of string, you need to take off your zipline hanger and climb, exhaustively, to the next wooden platform. It is mentally and physically excruciating. The perfect storm.

       Do it. Don’t do it. I couldn’t decide. The immense height scared me away, but there was no real reason not to do it. There was no route to get off this obstacle except what lay in front of me. My helmet suddenly weighed 1000 pounds and seemingly cracked my head open. The leaves danced. Trembling, I took a deep breath and jumped into the nothingness. What comes next? A gust of wind, blowing dry my sweaty hands. The scenery sailed past me. I was a skydiver trying to go against gravity. What if I don’t catch on to the net? Cross the bridge when you get there. The net quickly, but leisurely, came nearer. Clank! Face planting into the trap, I was a fish caught in a fishing net.  Without thinking, I grasped it and waited for my senses to operate what was happening. I searched for my zipline hanger and found it disheveled in a string of mess.

       “Sit on the net!” I heard as the harness seemed to press into my back. Looking down, there were carpets of leaves, whispering under me. Then, I spotted a guidance worker at Treetop Adventure. The worker was advising me to straddle both my legs into the holes on the net so I didn’t have to tire myself out. Yeah, as if you’re up here suffering. Well, no pain, no gain. Obediently, I sat on the net and clumsily untangled the zipline hanger. I took it off. Now, all that was keeping me safe was the normal, filthy hanger. My limbs ached like a tiger was biting them. I gathered all my energy. 

       Heart quivering, I squirmed all the way to the next foot hole on the net. I felt like a 1000 pound pig. That one move had dished out all of my energy. There were about three more left! I once again stuck my legs through the holes to clear the tension. It’s now or never. Panting, I staggered across the next two holes and was almost there. I felt like a camel carrying two lumps of extra weight. The river gushed under me, fainting the encouraging yells. I forced my leg to take a step, and before I knew it, I arrived at the nearest platform.

       I virtually collapsed onto the wood but managed to lean my weight onto the tree. I did it! That was my first reaction, but my second was the feeling of all the perspiration and soreness eating away at me. I heard a second “Clank!” Before I knew it, my dad was rapidly taking off his zipline hanger while holding onto the net. Skipping and gripping, he practically galloped on the net. In the blink of an eye, my dad was heroically standing in front of me. My jaw dropped like a stone. He not only was brisk but also efficient.

       This obstacle course taught me to be courageous, not only at Treetop Adventure, but in my regular day life, too. You need to step out of your comfort zone and take up the challenge. It is not easy. Although you don’t realize it, bravery, and the willingness to try something new, can bring you a long way. Fortune favors the brave.

-Catherine Z.