Camp Activities - High Ropes

Taking My Fears To New

Heights

 

On Tuesday the fourth of May, 2010, I faced my biggest fear. Heights and I did so by walking the beam on my year 7 school camp.

 

It was our last session for the day and we were doing High Ropes. I was so scared that I was crying as I climbed up the ladder that would lead me to the beam. A million things were running trough my head like ‘What if I fall?’ or ‘Don’t look down, don’t look down!’

 

I had reached the part were I had to step off the ladder and on to the beam. I was starting to turn so I could step on to the beam when I realized that I couldn’t do it. I was standing on a pole just over 8 metres off the ground and I was stuck. I just couldn’t do it.

 

I was still crying when all of a sudden I heard the shouts of encouragement from my group. They were all calling out ‘ Go Kim! You can do it!’ And I thought ‘Give it a go. They're all standing down there, cheering you on. If not for yourself, do it for them!’ So then, so slow that a snail could have beaten me, I carefully stuck one foot out and placed it on the beam. I did the same with the other one. I was now standing on the beam!

 

I was up there and standing, but it wasn’t over yet. I had to get a least halfway across the beam to come down. If I came down to close to the ladder, I could bash my legs against the beam or bang my head I had to keep moving. Unfortunately, my legs felt like jelly so walking was going to be tough.

 

I walked slowly, doing the shuffle all the way to the middle. Finally I reached the middle. By then I had had enough. I was going down!

 

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I burst into tears. I don’t know why I was crying, probably relief. I was on land, just the way I liked it!

 

I may have done the beam, but I am still afraid of heights and I probably always will be but I will never forget doing my Year 7 Camp High Ropes.

 

By Kim

Room 28