My Passion to Explore the World

As I stood at the end of the ledge watching my older brother prepare to attach to the zip line deep underground in New Zealand's Waitomo Caves, I couldn't help but think about the seemingly endless darkness that filled the cave ahead of us. The look on my brother's face made it clear that he couldn't wait to leap off the ledge and fly through the cave. Just a few seconds later, he took one last look at me, leaped off the ledge, and faded into the darkness. "Your turn", the guide said. My hands were shaking. "3... 2... 1..."... I leapt. I leaned back and opened my eyes.

It felt like a dream. All my anxiety vanished. I looked up and saw what I can only describe as true beauty. Never have I been so awe struck. Thousands of small, blue lights covered the ceiling.

After what felt like an eternity, I reached the end of the zip line. The guide waiting for us explained that the blue lights on the top of the cave were glowworms. My brother and I looked up with disbelief. How could a bunch of worms create such an incredible scene?

Following another hour of wading through underground streams and wriggling through narrow muddy passages we saw the final climb up a waterfall to the end of the cave. I used all the strength I had to fight the freezing cold water and finally reached daylight. I lay back on the grass and gasped for air, still thinking about the wonderful things I had witnessed in the cave. Although it was a relief to be back above ground again, I was sad that I was back in the regular world and that my adventure was over. I wished that the feelings of awe could stay with me forever.

The drive back to the lodge was a quiet one but my mind was full of thoughts of continued adventure and travel. A spark was lit inside me and with that spark came endless possibilities of experiencing the world and everything it has to offer.

I believe that my experiences that day are a great representation of who I am. Every day, I take leaps of faith by exploring the world around me. Whether it is jumping off a cliff into a cave or learning about Anatomy and Physiology, I apply all of my effort because of my passion for knowing what there is to know about the world.

With the friends and family that I have, my dreams of experiencing the world have become a reality. Since coming back from New Zealand I have made a real effort to put more adventure in my life. I have gone mountain biking at Tahoe and kayaking and snorkeling in my hometown. My passion for travel and adventure is what I believe will empower me to become successful in life. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

My experiences, like the ones I had in the caves of New Zealand, have allowed me to put her words into action in everything I do.