Ropes Course

Well, we're down to eight days of school left until summer. I'm looking forward to the change of pace, but I'm really going to miss our kids. Leslie and I have had the opportunity to have some of our kids for two years in a row, so the thought of sending our babies (who have morphed from 7th grade babies into high schoolers!) away is a little sad.

We had an amazing opportunity to take our classes to the Challenge Course at Conroe High School last week. We had a wonderful time! Thursday we took our 7th graders and spent the day doing some of the high elements on the course. Friday we took our 8th graders. The 8th graders did some of the same elements that the 7th graders did the day before PLUS they were able to do either the Zip Line or Pamper Pole.

My group of all boys started at the rock wall. I had done the rock wall the day before with the 7th graders and had only gotten half way (to the platform where the wall goes from slanted to straight up!). When it was my turn to go (and of course, I went LAST!) the boys were not going to let me stop at my halfway point. With their encouragement, I made it all the way to the top! I was SO excited :) I felt like I could do anything.

Next we were off to the Pamper Pole. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Pamper Pole, let me explain. Basically, it's a telephone pole. You climb up to the top using the pegs and staples that are placed in the pole, you balance yourself on the very, tip-top of the pole, then you jump off and try to grab the ring that is hanging out several feet in front of you equally high off the ground.

Now...I knew that there was no way I was even getting on this thing, so I just took pictures of the boys and hung out until it came time for "Mrs. Roth's turn". After talking it over with the facilitators, they told me that as long as I made it to the 7th 'staple' I could jump from there and didn't have to climb up and try to balance myself on the top. I knew that I had to at least try. The boys had worked so hard and several had accepted the challenge of the pole even though they were scared, so I couldn't just walk away. SO, with my heart about the jump out of my chest and my legs already a little weak, I got my harness on and started up the pole.

About the time I was 1/4 of the way up, Leslie's group made their way over and was cheering me on! I made it up and was able to touch the top of the pole and then jump off! It was the hardest, scariest thing I have ever done. I will never forget it as long as I live. There are four things that I will remember most:
1) Holding on the top of the pole saying, "I can't let go!" and hearing Marti (a counselor from our school and facilitator at the course) say, "Yes you can! Mrs. Roth, whatever you are holding on to, just let it go. You CAN let go!" (What a profound statement that really made my jump a freeing experience!)
2) My feet finally hitting the ground and having one of my best friends there to hug!
3) My conversation with Leslie when she jumped and finally hit the ground:
Leslie: "I feel like I was just talking to 'you know who'!
Me: "Well, you were! You were close enough!
4) One of our students telling me how scared he was to do it earlier and that he was proud of me for getting as far as I did :) SO sweet!

I knew teaching was going to be a challenge, but this job has challenged me in ways that I would have never expected. I love it! :)