Reaching Unspeakable Heights
As my heart races with exhilaration, my fingers tighten around the rock as I keep my head facing upwards towards the goal– battling my fear of acrophobia.
“Don’t look down, just keep reaching–right hand up, right leg up, left hand up, left leg up,” I remind myself to continue grasping at whatever I can.
As soon as I knew it, I reached the top of the climb. Pure excitement takes control of my angst and my fervor for the sport blooms.
I can not help but appreciate my privilege to be able to experience an activity so surreal. More particularly, I am grounded in my increased gratitude, thankful for my environment, and how I can grasp opportunities despite the risks. I take pride in my new ability to say “yes” to the unexpected, engage in the unknown, and challenge my fears.
Stemming from an English project, I was assigned to watch a film of my choice. Selecting "Daughters of Destiny”, I embarked on a journey exploring the obscenities of impoverished Indian families, the Untouchables, the lowest social stratum of India’s caste system. After watching, I acquired new lenses allowing me to recognize the privilege I held, even though the Untouchables and I share being low-income in our societies.
The impoverished families struggled to provide for their children, let alone, themselves. With the pay for exhausting labor being excessively low, it is borderline impossible to move up castes. As most families follow traditional values, their daughters marry young and attend to household chores instead of prioritizing their education and career. Fortunately, the documentary showcases a new boarding school opening, providing families the opportunity to permit their daughters’ attendance. Although the parents fear their daughters leaving, they agree to the unknown. With this, I realized the value of the opportunities I had access to and my freedom to explore outside of traditional boundaries.
This revelation flooded me with profound courage to act promptly. As I recognized my authority over my decisions and felt rife with gratitude, I knew that I had to take hold of all of the windows left open for me. As the daughters were increasingly appreciative of the educational opportunity they were given, I grew incredibly grateful for mine, as well as for all aspects of my life my bedroom and home-cooked meals to my ability to explore several interests and fields of study. With countless opportunities around me and newfound clarity, I made a promise to myself to take risks like the Indian parents and to appreciate all that surrounds me like the daughters.
Proud of my strengthened vision, I began my “say-yes” expedition-where I urged myself to accept any beneficial opportunities that came along, regardless of my uncertainty of the outcome. As a member of a Health and Wellness program, a chance to participate in a rock-climbing event arose. Despite not knowing anything about the sport, I was reluctant at first, wanting to stay in my bubble of comfort, but with a shove from my conscience, I kept my promise. Rock by rock, I climbed out of my comfort zone and reached the height of pushing my boundaries. The more I climbed, the more I felt liberated from my restraints of fear. I began attending the rock-climbing events repeatedly, inviting my brothers and other friends to join me. As rock climbing quickly became a new favorite hobby of mine, I wanted to share my activity of catharsis with others in hopes that they will too feel a sense of freedom through engagement in an activity they have never experienced before.
“Come on,” I pleaded to my brothers. “You will love it– if you don't, at least you can say you've tried!”
Soon enough, my brothers became my regular plus-ones to the events. Although our muscles were constantly challenged to hold our bodies, our hunger to reach the top fueled by adrenaline was stronger. I am lucky for the opportunity to engage in an activity that not only supports me physically but also mentally. Prideful, I will take this lesson with me to further practice risk-taking and impede my fears.
As I continue to encourage others to welcome the unknown, I remind them to think of the Untouchables and to never pass an opportunity. As the daughters and I were able to reach outside of our margins, we both were able to reach unspeakable heights.
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Vy carried this “say-yes” spirit forward, letting it ripple through every corner of her life — in the classroom, in her clubs, and in every new challenge she met with open hands. That same courage led her to say yes once more — to her dream school. Today, she walks the campus of UCLA.