This weekend, I went snowboarding in Kellogg, Idaho at Silver Mountain! It was my first time going, and I was a bit nervous; however, I DID HAVE A LOT OF FUN!
My Saturday started at 5:45 am – waking up… or attempting to. I packed a PB&J and headed out of my apartment to meet the Hawaii Pacific Islanders Club at DeSmet Circle to board the bus. Other clubs, such as the International Student Union and Gonzaga Outdoors, were loading up their buses as well. Getting to Silver Mountain took about an hour and a half which was a good time to talk with friends and sleep. As soon as we got there, everyone geared up and got on the gondola to the top of the mountain. (FUN FACT! Silver Mountain’s gondola ride is the longest one in the world!) After 20 minutes, we were finally up on the mountain. We rented gear and off we went. For three hours, I stumbled down the bunny hill……… twice! And after that, I attempted a green run. I applaud all you snowboarders out there because when I was on that run, I was afraid I wouldn’t make it. lol. But, after 45 minutes I saw the beloved ski lift that would take me to safety.
I did learn a lot about life while snowboarding. I fell many times and sometimes I was not able to push myself back up without trying really hard. As I type this blog, I feel the consequence of aching arms and a sore neck. But it’s good to fail sometimes. Failures make us stronger. We learn from the mistakes we make and, hopefully, learn not to make them again. And in college, being on my own, I’ve learned so many things about myself. For example, I need to learn how to budget, I spend too much time socializing with friends and not studying, and I can’t say no! But by observing all of these things, I can adjust to better myself. Even though my arms and legs are in pain right now, I’m expecting my muscles to grow bigger and stronger so that next time, I’ll have an easier time picking myself up. That which does not kill us only makes us stronger.
College is definitely about growing up and learning more about yourself. So don’t be afraid to fail – try new things, join different clubs, GO SNOWBOARDING! Good luck! And keep on standing!
**If you are interested in going out to ski and snowboard, join a club or get involved with Gonzaga Outdoors! That way, you don’t have to worry about transportation on your own and you’ll be able to go with a whole group of people.