Have you ever heard someone say they feel like they’re “on top of the world?” The phrase is used to express how great someone feels, but have you ever wondered what it feels like to actually be on top of the world? I did, and it inspired me to climb a mountain for the first time in my life. After graduating from high school, my three best friends and I decided to drive cross-country on a three-week road trip. When we reached Colorado we decided to try to climb a mountain in the Rockies. We wanted to challenge ourselves and prove that you can accomplish anything as long as you put your mind to it!
Even though it was the middle of the summer, the mountain was so high up that there were piles of snow in the woods. Hiking through the wilderness, we were amazed by the beauty and wonder of the environment around us. The mountain felt peaceful and calm, with the exception of a few rabbits, some mountain goats and even some elk (one of the largest deer in the world)! Five hours in, we were close to reaching the top, but one of my friends and I felt too tired to continue. We were exhausted, our legs hurt and we feared getting stuck on the mountain during an afternoon thunderstorm. Then my other friend explained to me that even though I felt tired and wanted to give up, we were so close and the moment I reached the top I would feel so relieved and happy. He asked me, "Did you really come all this way to almost climb this mountain?"
His message really hit home and meant a lot to me about pursuing your goals and nevergiving up. After another hour we managed to reach the top, and I had never felt more proud gazing out at the countless rows of mountains around us.
