LearnServe South Africa 2018, Day 12: Persist and Get it Done

Saturday, July 7 – My LearnServe peers and I came to hike up beautiful Table Mountain located in Cape Town, South Africa. I had a purpose and an objective: to climb Table Mountain, to gain a sense of accomplishment, and to learn to work hard and put in the effort for what I want to accomplish and for the goals that I have set up in my life.

Before I began climbing the mountain, I knew that it would take me at least 2 hours to climb, maybe less than that if I persisted. I knew that this was not an easy task, but it had to get done, and it was going to get done. Throughout climbing, there were times where I wanted to give up and not complete it, but I knew I had to, especially since there was no other way possible for me to get down. Knowing it would take more time to go back down then up, I did not want to take that chance and waste all the energy I had already put into climbing Table Mountain. After persisting through climbing up the mountain, I finally reached the top and felt a sense of fulfillment. Along with my peers, I knew we had all felt a sense of accomplishment because it was not an easy task but it got done.

Although I was at the top of Table Mountain, I could not stay there forever and had to get down at some point. The way I got up is the same way I got down. This was a more difficult task because it would take 3.5 hours instead of the previous 2 hours that it had taken to get up there. In life, sometimes there are going to be things you don’t want to do, or there are going to be bumps in the road, but you have to persist and get it done. Going down the mountain was very difficult and more challenging than going up. After 3.5 hours of climbing down, I had a sense of victory within myself. I also saw that my peers and my community felt the same way. We all had worked together at times throughout the hike, supported each other, and were there for each other.

Looking back at this moment, I realized that the pain I felt climbing only made me stronger not only physically but also mentally. It challenged me to know that I can do anything I put my mind to. I had many doubts that I couldn’t get this done, but I continued to push myself outside of my comfort zone – to fully reach my potential and to see my abilities. Climbing up Table Mountain was an amazing experience that not everyone gets the chance to have. I am very grateful and proud that I not only had the opportunity, but I used it and I completed it.

Kharis S., Washington Leadership Academy