A Wall, a Chancellor, and a New Perspective

       I trudged over to the esteemed Chapman University rock climbing wall after a tiresome day of activities. I was slightly frustrated by the late-night-only hours, regretful I procrastinated on this assignment and overall, had a poor mindset walking in. My perspective changed once I saw the massive structure in all its glory. Tucked away in a nondescript closet was a wall that challenged China’s as far as I was concerned. I was thoroughly impressed. After staring UP for a few solid minutes, I was ready to scale that piece of art. Once I took care of the extensive safety training, I selected a medium route and proceeded to embrace my inner mountain goat. Yes, I made it to the top, but that wasn’t where my joy reached its peak. I found the most joy when jumped off the wall, and had my heart race for half a second, before repelling down. That floating feeling of helplessness is not easily replicated, and it was the driving force for me climbing up again and again.

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 My floating experience created a jubilant and peaceful outlook on rock climbing. Admittedly, I was naïve and a sucker for the heroic journeys associated with climbing the tallest peaks around the world. 

That outlook came crashing down in a matter of 24 hours.

First, I became skeptical of climbing after reading pieces of Jon Krakauer’s, Into Thin Air. The losing friends on the mountain and falling into crevasses aspects of climbing were rather disturbing. Although, my severely skewed concept of mountaineering wasn’t fully evident until Chancellor Struppa unleashed his fury on the topic. I was enthralled by his adamant perspective that climbing was driven by pride and selfish reasoning. I never thought of that viewpoint before. Among many intriguing statements, Struppa went as far to say that the chance of death was the driving force behind his interest. Death!

I valued his forwardness on the topic tremendously and it lead to self-evaluation in respects to my climbing experience and own life in general.

Was floating perilously in the air similar to the thrill of risking death?

Are other motivations in my life related to my unwillingness to accept the simple challenges in front of me every day?

These questions continue to linger, and because of that, I realize that climbing a makeshift wall in a closet can become far more complex than previously imagined.