Shocked, overwhelmed and confused, is how I felt when my father came home and told me that he had signed us up for Philmont. Fourteen days in New Mexico, with ten other scouts, hiking ninety-one miles, every fifteen year old’s dream, right? Personally, I could not believe my father was talking like he was thrilled. He painted the idea like a beautiful summer day, telling me it would be the pinnacle of my scouting career; a once in a lifetime opportunity. After an hour, I began to just along with him about this incredible experience that would change me forever.
A week later we attended a meeting that just took my attitude to the slaughterhouse and left it there to die. They informed us about training hikes at Kennesaw Mountain …show more content…
because, against my better judgement, I wanted to see the sunrise atop the Tooth of Time. We slowly trudged through the darkness up the mountain. About two miles in I heard, “WE MADE IT,” but when I turned the corner all I found were crushed dreams!” It felt like we had reached the peak, but then I pivoted to my right and saw the massive silhouette of the Tooth of Time still ahead of us. Sunrise was in thirty minutes, so we book it. No stops, no water, no snacks and certainly no slowing down until we reached the top. We scaled half way up the mountain when daylight began to pierce the horizon. With only seconds remaining I stopped on the nearest flat rock, I called it quits along with several other crew mates and I ripped open my bag of breakfast and began to devour. Completely absorbed in my Stinger Bar, I failed to notice the purple sunrise condensing in the distance. My friend, Matt, elbowed me in the gut and through a face full of granola, I peered up to gaze upon the most awe-inspiring moment I have ever experienced in my life. In that moment I realized my childish whining and useless resistance had resulted in nothing, but that instead, all the time and effort that I had invested manifested itself into this one crowning moment. I realized that anything in life that is worth doing is challenging. Since that moment I have charged myself with the conviction that in
A week later we attended a meeting that just took my attitude to the slaughterhouse and left it there to die. They informed us about training hikes at Kennesaw Mountain …show more content…
because, against my better judgement, I wanted to see the sunrise atop the Tooth of Time. We slowly trudged through the darkness up the mountain. About two miles in I heard, “WE MADE IT,” but when I turned the corner all I found were crushed dreams!” It felt like we had reached the peak, but then I pivoted to my right and saw the massive silhouette of the Tooth of Time still ahead of us. Sunrise was in thirty minutes, so we book it. No stops, no water, no snacks and certainly no slowing down until we reached the top. We scaled half way up the mountain when daylight began to pierce the horizon. With only seconds remaining I stopped on the nearest flat rock, I called it quits along with several other crew mates and I ripped open my bag of breakfast and began to devour. Completely absorbed in my Stinger Bar, I failed to notice the purple sunrise condensing in the distance. My friend, Matt, elbowed me in the gut and through a face full of granola, I peered up to gaze upon the most awe-inspiring moment I have ever experienced in my life. In that moment I realized my childish whining and useless resistance had resulted in nothing, but that instead, all the time and effort that I had invested manifested itself into this one crowning moment. I realized that anything in life that is worth doing is challenging. Since that moment I have charged myself with the conviction that in