Essay 'Breaking Through Uncertainty: Welcome Adversity'

The idea of taking risks appeal to most people, but what is actually learned from the act of risk taking? In the two readings, “Breaking through Uncertainty –Welcome Adversity,” by Jim McCormick, and “Neighbours,” by Lien Chao, the benefit derived from taking risks is explored. In McCormick’s article, a parachuting jump mishap leads to his revelation that confidence and certainty can be found. Chao’s short story deals with Sally befriending an elderly couple and joining them for Canada Day celebrations, and along the way realizes what’s important to herself. Though “Breaking Through Uncertainty –Welcome Adversity,” deals with a life saving risk, “Neighbours” is more about a personal risk, something that demonstrates much greater benefits as personal satisfaction. Stepping outside a comfort zone is a risk, and when it is doing something one is not accustomed to doing, the benefits gained raises ones overall confidence. “Breaking Through Uncertainty –Welcome Adversity,” Jim takes the risk of cutting away his original parachute (par. 15). Certainly this is a huge risk. Going outside the ordinary to trust your training is a life saver; however, though the benefit of taking the risk is saving his life, it is something he

Jim had had 2123 jumps in his life, and this particular jump was his first of the day (par. 4). It gives the sense of walking across the road and facing a fast approaching car. It is something fairly commonplace for him that “fifteen years of training and practice before every day of jumping took hold” (par. 11). This is similar to stepping out of the way of an approaching car. Sally though is facing something she is not familiar with. The confrontation is new and something she needs to “decide[s] to take a chance”(par. 39) on. It is new territory for her, and the fact it is a personal risk means that she could leave feeling ashamed and knowing she had lost possible