Mind Over Matter

Senior Survival:

The idea of Senior Survival is for the senior class to participate in activities that encourage them to work together and bond as a class. Last Sunday, AAA made it happen for the first time! After returning home around 10 PM from 4 long days of Leadership Conference, I woke up well before dawn to leave school at 6 AM to head to Collegedale.

I had somewhat of an idea of what was going to happen that day, but at the same time I was totally oblivious. We arrived to Southern University's Outdoor Leadership property and the fist thing I saw was a whopping 40 foot tower. --- I guess I knew what we were going to be doing how huh? The bus pulled into a parking space and it all began.

We did a couple of team building games on the ground before tackling that tower.  Eventually, it was time! The Outdoor Leadership experts explained to us how we were to manage surviving the climb: teaching us how to use the harness and letting us know that one of our friends would be on the ground belaying us--literally holding our lives in their hands.

My friend Kevin and I decided to tackle the "Giants Ladder" part of the tower together. It wasn't long until we developed a strategy that worked! However, it wasn't long either until we were tired out and ready to quit; 3 more steps was the deal and we'd both call it a day and be satisfied. In no time 3 steps were climbed. Simultaneously our female friend made it to the top of the Pirates Ladder.  We both looked up. . .the top was so close. There was no way we were giving up now after a girl made it. In the blink of an eye I was pulling Kevin up to the top platform, 40 feet above the ground.


After lunch, we took a 6 mile canoe trip in the Ocoee River. I love to canoe, and with Dillan as a great partner, this trip was a success! We tackled rapids, maneuvered through rocks, and sped passed the slow pokes displaying the epitome of teamwork.

The adventure ended with a decent dinner at a Mexican Restaurant and hanging out in Chattanooga for a couple hours in the morning.  Senior Survival was a great way to bond our class.