When I was around five years old, I remember every Friday my mom would drive my sister and me to pick up my dad from the train station after work, and drive us to the rock climbing place. Being so young at the time, it felt great to be able to climb despite being younger than anyone there. I remember the feeling when I touched the last hold and finished a climb after trying so many times. I didn't take it very seriously when I was younger and I did it purely out of the joy it gave me, and although I liked reaching the top, it didn't bother me too much if I couldn't do it right away and I would just move on to a new route. One day we just stopped going and I didn't really think much of it.

That was nine years ago. Recently, or about a year and a half ago, we started rock climbing again, but this time was different. I had already done it before in the past, but it felt less familiar than I thought it would. This time I was more serious about it. With my dad's help, I progressed quickly and improved my skills and techniques. He had previously been climbing for about twenty years and was able to get back to the skill level he was at. In the beginning, we climbed easy routes to get used to all our surroundings and just to climbing in general. As I got more comfortable, I started trying harder routes until I found one that was challenging enough that I didn't do it onsight (finishing a climb on your first try). From there, my family and I went at least twice a week to keep our skills on par and to get better. As I kept practicing, getting better, and doing harder climbs, I was attempting them multiple times until I was able to do it. Even if I couldn't climb it that day, I would always come back and go straight to that route. As I climbed, I reached with my calloused hands, one after the other, struggling to step up. I stretched my hand until I grasped the last hold. I had finished it. The feeling of accomplishment and joy washed over me as I kicked off the wall and was lowered down.

Over time, I have realized that climbing is not just a sport that I enjoy, but also teaches me important things without me fully realizing them at the moment. This goes with other sports and activities too, but I think rock climbing has taught me the most. For example, resilience. Resilience is being able to get back up and try again despite failing many times before. In rock climbing, it is pretty literal. Once I fall, I just get back on the wall and try again until I get it. But in other aspects of life it is a little different. If you fail at something or don’t meet expectations you can try again. Even so, I find that I am able to apply this to activities outside of rock climbing and sports. It has helped me anywhere from schoolwork to everyday situations and it has given me a new appreciation for my sport.

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