Entry #10 Jumping Off a Cliff

            Back when I was a junior in high school, I used to be a member in one of the most amazing clubs in my high school. The club name was the Adventure Club. Through the club, I made a lot of friends, and I had the opportunity to experience the real meaning of nature. Hiking, rock climbing, surfing the ocean, river drafting and jumping of cliffs; this is what the Adventure Club was all about. We get away from our families and enjoy ourselves with nature. In this story I want inform you about overcoming one of my biggest fears that I did not know about.

It was the Sunday of August, 2010. My iPod alert finally freed me from my bed. I woke up to that morning filled with energy and excitement and Why not? It was my first trip with the Adventure Club. I have already finished packing since the night before the trip, and all I had to do is get dressed for my first episode with Adventure club. What a beautiful symphony the birds were playing that day. Deep inside me I can hear the nature calling me. I was a little bit anxious though, just like a little baby who is about to get introduced to something new he have never seen before. I was hustling with my shower, breakfast and dress up. Even though I still had enough time, I felt as if I were going to be left behind. In a bullet speed my dad got me to school, the place where the Adventure Club meet. My cousins and I were the first ones to show up. Impatiently, I was waiting next to the schools vans going back and forth. At 7:50 AM.., every one showed up. Tapping with my toes, I was waiting for the teacher to finish talking. At 8:00 AM. The van added 6 friends to my friend list. With all the activities I had with my van mates, somewhere in my mind I am thinking about where I am going. Clear creek, this is where I and the adventure club were heading to.  What is a cliff look like? How High is it? , Am I going to be able to survive after I jump into the water? Somehow I found out deep inside me I had small fear from jumping off a cliff without even trying it.

            Arriving at the destination, I was getting my back pack ready for the two and a half miles hike. I remember how burning the sun was, that I can feel my body getting sweaty already before the hike. Completing the first mile I was melting already, and I can even see the mirage coming out of the ground like small lake. Beginning from the second half of the hike, I started to see the small waterfalls and I can feel the weathers breakdown. Finally I can hear the nature singing for me.

            Finally, it is the moment I have waited so long to see. We break into one of the paths and all I see is red rocks all over the place and I look at myself standing on one of them. “Mohammed, here we are buddy you are standing on a cliff” said Mr. Sing, my teacher and the leader of the Adventure Club. Suddenly I see everybody jumping into the “black water lake”. Looking at the water from the edge of the cliff, I just realized my legs were shaking to the point that I could not stop them. All I thought about was how high the cliff was and I kept on backing of the cliff. Half an hour passed. I realized I and some other mates have not jumped yet. I guess we shared the same feelings. I did not want to go back saying that I have not done it so I took the courage and stood back again at the edge of the cliff. My legs were automatically shaking again. Each time I looked down to the lake, my heart started pounding as if it’s going to explode out of my chest. I felt like I almost ran out of oxygen. I did not know if I should cry myself out or just yell for no reason. While I was drowning in one of my must fearful moments, “Mohammed you can do it, take a couple of steps back then run without thinking about it and jump” Mr. Sing pull my hand out of the fear I was drowning in. Then everybody started cheering and calling my name out loud. Just like what Mr. Sing said I started counting five steps to the back. Without thinking, I broke through that fear and ran to the edge without thinking and jumped as far as I could. In one second I realized I am in the black lake swimming. Yes, at the end of the day I jumped and overcame one of my biggest fears and it makes me so proud of myself.