The Climb by Lily

The Climb by Lily - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

At an astounding height of 14,197 feet tall, Mt. Princeton is not only the highest mountain in Colorado, but the most challenging mountain in the southwest, with a round trip of 13.25 miles, an elevation gain of 5,400 feet, and an average climb time of sixteen hours. Finally rising above the treeline, I clearly see the distant glimmer and twinkling of city lights miles away. But looking above, there's a sight even more incredible: trillions of stars providing guidance and reassurance along my inevitably long and treacherous journey. Moving onward and upward, the lights become smaller, the air gets thinner, and I put on an extra layer. From there on up, it only gets harder. We lose sight of the trail and must rely on a map and compass to scramble up the seemingly endless pile of rocks that lead to the summit.
Hours later my lungs burn and, although my muscles scream for a quick break, I know that the pain is temporary, and what I find at the top will be worth everything I have endured. Finally, I am at the top, the pinnacle, the summit. Although isolated on the top of the world, I have never felt closer to my friends, nature, and even myself. Looking around, I am surrounded by what seems like endless miles of mountain ranges. As I look closer, the ridges between each peak become more visible: the ups and downs, the jagged peaks, and the point at which the growth of trees and most vegetation ceases to exist due to the lack of oxygen. At an elevation of 14,197 feet, there is nothing but rocks, snow, and the occasional alpine vegetation that somehow manages to find the nourishment to survive in such a hostile environment. Their persistence shows that even the smallest of flowers can survive in conditions that seem impossible.
For miles and miles, I am the tallest point the eye can see. I am vulnerable, but powerful; and that is a feeling that can never be forgotten. However, the high of reaching the peak cannot last forever, and after snapping a few pictures, I begin the inevitable descent downwards toward the ground.
When faced with a particularly difficult endeavor, I look back upon my adventures in the Rocky Mountains and apply my experience climbing to my current situation. Living with a painful and chronic disease, I have had to learn how to adjust to my situation, get through the hardest days, and still come out with a positive outlook. Although my disease is physically unrecognizable, getting through even one day can sometimes feel as difficult as climbing Mt. Princeton, but deep down, I know that if I can climb not one, but ten of the mountains in Colorado, I can get through another day. I know what it is like to start at the bottom and reach the top, but ultimately my journeys have taught me how to be stronger. Similar to the alpine flowers, I too have learned how to grow and prosper under difficult situations and continue to never lose hope. No matter what obstacles life throws at me, I know that I can get through another day, another challenge, and another struggle. So, when things take a different and more difficult turn in life, you need to find your own path, adjust your course, and wait for the sun to come up.