Personal Narrative: My Vacation To Wisconsin Dells

Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will (James Stephens). On my first vacation to Wisconsin Dells in the winter of twenty-twelve, I went on an obstacle course that was above a blinding arcade. Walking across the different ledges and ropes was terrifying, but I did not let that stop me from trying. Now I know fear is not something that should hold me back, but something to push me forward.

It is the last day of my family vacation at Wisconsin Dells, and we decide to go on an obstacle course. The course is on the third level of the building, and when I look down I can see all the colorful, flashing lights of the arcade below. The obstacle course itself is just ledges and ropes that I could walk across. I am so nervous that my

hands shake, and I can feel the sweat on them. All my sisters and I decide to go on, so we put on our harnesses and start to walk. Abby takes about two steps before she starts to shake and is on the verge of tears. We all try and comfort her by telling her it is okay and encouraging her to try a little more. She does not listen though, and quickly gets off and goes to our parents. I step off the first platform and onto a ledge and my whole body shakes. I cling to my harness like it is my life support and I will fall if I do not. I walk over on a couple of ledges and try to force myself onto some ropes. I walk up to a platform that has six thick ropes right next to each other and I start to walk across them. I walk to the middle of the ropes when I almost lose my footing I look at my feet to try and catch myself, but when I look down I see how far up I am and I start to wobble. I go rigid at the sight and try to move, but it is like my feet have been glued down to the ropes. I start to focus my hands instead as I make way across. When I take the final step off the ropes the platform greets me with solid ground and I loosen up. It takes some convincing of my sisters and myself to finally start moving again.
Next, I go across the bridge of ropes again, and I decide that it is not as terrifying as I originally thought. On the other side of the platform, I look around, and I see two pairs of ropes with a small gap in between. As I walk over to the rope, I am shaky and unbalanced. My first step on the rope makes me wobble, and I quickly balance my other foot on the second set of ropes. When I walk across, I find my balance and do not make any other mistakes. I am curious to see if I can go faster, so I make my way across again. I am steady the whole way over and I did it quicker than before. My oldest sister, Brittany, is still on with me and my little sister, Sammi. Brittany is cautious and has not tried any of the rope courses. Sammi and I encourage her while we continue to keep moving around. Brittany decides to try one set of ropes. She makes it across but her body shakes with the force of an erupting volcano and decides she will not do it again. I understand and leave her alone to allow her to have more fun. I move across the beams and ropes as fast as I can try to get out of my comfort zone. While walking quickly across two ropes I get anxious and I start to slow down. Going slowly makes me feel like a snail that will never get to its destination. I remind myself that I want to try a harder task, so I pick up the pace. When I make it over I realize that it was not so bad and I would not mind doing it again. The beams and ropes keep calling my name to get me to stay and try more.
Later on, I am more comfortable with the ledges and ropes now than I was when I first got on.

My little sister has tried everything already including the single rope that looks like the type acrobats walk across in circus’. That is when Sammi dares me to walk across the rope as well. I am hesitant but determined to make my way across. I find my way over to the single rope with each step gaining more and more courage. When I reach the rope I take several deep breaths before I take my first step. The rope wobbles and one misstep makes it feel like an earthquake right under my feet. I try not to think about how far up I am but at moving my feet one in front of the other. While walking across I am steady and not shaking in fear that I might actually fall. I make it over to the other side and relief washes over me in a wave. When I look up at Sammi I find her smirking and she says we should start a competition to see who is faster. Sammi and I stand side by side on opposite ledges we give each other a quick glance before we take off. Sammi is small and moves quickly with me right next to her neither of us slowing down. We make it to the platform at the same time and decide to go on some ropes. After many races, we do not have a clear winner and decide to call it a draw when our parents tell us it is time to

go.
In the end, curiosity can help overcome fear with determination. Fear should not hold people back but help strive to do more. I learned that day that fear is always going to be there, but it can be easily conquered by determination. I always remember now, that I should not let something stop me from doing something new.