I am competitive to say the least. My friends often say that sometimes I am too competitive. Is there such a thing? I don't know, but where does this competitive drive come from? What fuels me to push on and strive to excel?
For example, SUNY Cortland requires that all P.E. majors complete the Outdoor Adventure Education for Teachers class at Raquette Lake (PED 308). Part of the course involves a 5 day extended wilderness trip where students choose what type of trip they would like to go on depending on their abilities and preference. There were many choices for us to choose from including 90% paddling (canoeing), 50/50, Peaks & Paddle, High Peaks Moderate, and High Peaks Intense. After taking some time to think about it, I decided that I wanted to push myself; test myself if you will. I signed up for High Peaks Intense. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. What motivated me to sign up for this trip? Was it the thrill of pushing myself? Was it the people in the peanut gallery whispering that the intense trip will be too hard? Maybe it was my friend Shawn, pumping me up to go home having hiked more high peaks than all of my hiking buddies who have been going longer than I have. Who knows?
The day before the trip I met with my group members and our instructor and TA who would be going on the trip with us. We formed our team, Team 18, and discussed the goals for the trip after some team building exercises on the high and low ropes courses. We really began to bond during these exercises and learned about the many strengths and weaknesses of our team and the individuals within the team. That night we were all very excited about the trip. In planning the trip with our instructor, we decided that we were very motivated and we wanted to try to do something that noone else in the sixty year history of the program has ever done. We wanted to hike 18 Adirondack high peaks in 4.5 days. The previous record was 15 high peaks as an entire group, and the individual record was 16 high peaks. I think that was a huge source of motivation for my team and for myself. Going down in Cortland history among 60 years of Physical Education majors has to be motivating and quite an achievement. That's what I kept thinking all night long before the trip. I was also thinking 'What am I nuts? Are we all nuts? Obviously there is a reason the record is what it is. This is going to be brutal.'
Without getting into too much detail, 6 out of us 8 team members hiked 18 of the Adirondack Mountain high peaks. The other 2 hiked 6 mountains. There were many times along the way where I began thinking 'Why did I sign up for this? This is too hard. I want to quit.' I never succumbed to those thoughts, however. I remember one point in particular that was a major test of my drive and desire to complete this task. We had just climbed Mt. Marcy (the highest point in New York State) for the second time, we had to go over it to get to get to other peaks, and my instructor who was following behind me noticed some bruising on the back of my knees. After further examination, we noticed that there was quite a bit of fluid building up in my knees and the backs of both of my knees were very bruised from overuse. At that point, my instructor looked at me and said, "Maybe we should call it for you (end my climbing). What do you think?" I looked at him and told him," I'm getting my 18 mountains. I'll take it day by day because I don't want to risk permanent damage, but I think I'll be o.k. and I want 18." At that moment, I knew I had it in me and I was going to achieve my goal. He gave me the okay and after 7 more high peaks I achieved my goal. I hiked 18 high peaks in 4.5 days.
That was by far the most grueling, brutal, and challenging physical activity that I have ever done. In the end, I think it was the one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life so far. But what drove me to thrive, with all of the forces against me achieving my goal pushed me to succumb? There were many motivating factors. There was the intrinsic reward and the beauty all around me. There were the whispers of others in my head that I heard saying 'You can't do 18. That's crazy. That's way too hard.' There was the support and desire of my entire team wanting to achieve this goal together. I give them a lot of the credit. Without those guys with me, I never would've been able to accomplish this feat. However, my biggest inspiration was my fiancee and my family at home. Before I left for the trip, I wrote my lady a letter and in the letter I told her that I was going to make her proud and break the record and hike 18 high peaks. When I was out on this trip, I thought about achieving this goal and making her proud of me for making it. I also thought of my Mom. My mom is an amazing woman with more drive and determination and she exhibits more selflessness than any other person I have ever known of in my life. I wanted to make her proud too. I knew that when I came home and told her of my adventure that she would be proud of me. Who doesn't want to make mama proud? I also thought of my Dad and his love of the Adirondacks and how proud he would be. My other motivating factor was my 5 younger brothers and sisters. I wanted to set an example for them and show them that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. This is what motivates me to excel.
What motivates YOU?
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