When I was 14, I climbed Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in California. When I realized it is also the tallest peak in the continental United States, I thought, if I can climb this mountain, I can reach the tallest peak in every state! I had no idea how hard it would be to achieve my goal and how much I would learn along the way.

 

Climbing mountains doesn't just take endurance and commitment; it requires time and money - something a high school kid lacks! To fund my adventures, I work as a lifeguard, run a dog-sitting business, and fly my drone for people. In addition, rather than regular gifts for Christmas and my birthday, I ask for plane tickets and equipment. Regarding time, I give up some weekends and summer days, but it is worth it. Time and money are always obstacles, but they can usually be overcome!

 

After conquering Mt. Whitney, I thought I could easily reach any peak. I was wrong! There are incredibly easy peaks that are more like hills, like in Alabama and Florida, but most in the west are treacherous. Climbing Boundary Peak in Nevada was the most difficult thing I have done. The challenge with high mountains is that weather changes fast. A sunny summer day turned into a dangerous, no-visibility storm. I crawled to the top and realized I couldn't see my dad, and he couldn't hear me over the howling wind. We were separated for too long; at one point, I wondered if I would see him again. Gratefully, we found each other. This experience made me wonder how others persevere in the face of major challenges. I began asking people on each climb what they tell themselves when they want to give up. Their words have encouraged me to keep climbing. In a little over two years, I have summited 26 peaks. 

 

I take the wisdom of my fellow climbers with me wherever I go and use it for all the challenges I face. I would like to share what I have learned with younger people who may have been told they are too small, too young, too whatever, to accomplish their goals. Dreams are possible, one step at a time.

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