“Prove Yourself Wrong” By: Helen King

“Do you think I could go on this trip and not skydive because you know me and that. ain’t. happenin.” This exact sentence was what was written in the e-mail I sent to my parents above the link to Global L.E.A.D Cape Town. My parents replied later that day, assuring me that no one would make me do anything I was not comfortable with. So, with my parents’ support and my love for great white sharks biting at my heels (literally?), I decided to sign up for the trip. To this day, I am not really sure why I did. I have always been an overly cautious person and have felt strongly about what I did not want to do: no roller coasters, no cruises, no plane rides (which never seemed to stop my parents from booking transatlantic flights for the family sans discussion), among other things I was not willing to do, but CERTAINLY I was NEVER going to skydive. Have you seen those shows were the parachute doesn’t open and people die? Well, I have so count. me. out.

Well, I did sign up for the trip and I did fly over 20 hours in a plane over the course of one (maybe two? …I lost track) days. (Side note: can’t Delta just order Domino’s for the whole flight and call it a day? )

Since I first arrived in Cape Town, my view of myself has changed drastically. I spent the night in a township on a dollar a day, danced with creepy South Africans at a club (for about 2 seconds, but it counts!), and climbed Table Mountain (the most rigorous, but rewarding hikes of my life). And none of it was that bad (okay, maybe the South African dancing part). But, most importantly, I skydived. I did the thing that I said I would never, ever do. And it was definitely one of the best moments of my life. Not only was the feeling and experience incredible, but most importantly, I proved myself wrong. I thought I could never do it and I did. So, take that, self!