Saturday Climbing W. D. Valgardson Analysis

The idea of self-discovery surrounds each and every one of us. It can be the understanding of our own abilities and feelings, or simply the acquisition of knowledge that can be applied for greater use. Self-discovery is crucial in determining the path we take in our lives and the choices we make that help us reach the end goal. As a society that is constantly changing and innovating, self-discovery aids in the process of learning and growing to better those around us and our own interests. Self-discovery enables us to pursue the new found interests and impacts the decisions we make in our lives.

In the short story, “Saturday Climbing”, W.D. Valgardson outlines how discovering and learning about one’s true character and personality enables

us to grow closer with family and gain new interests. In the story, Barry, a father to his 16 year old daughter Moira, is conflicted with a desire to protect his daughter at all times over letting her grow up and experience the world for herself.

As the story progresses, we learn that self-discovery plays a major role in Barry’s decision making as he feels he is losing Moira to the powers of maturity and the independence a teen gains as they grow. He learns that to mend a broken relationship, he registers them for rock climbing. We are aware of this fact as it states “Taking up rock climbing had been an act of desperation”, and additionally “When he had noticed an advertisement for rock climbing, he remembered that she had spoken admiringly of classmates who had hiked the West Coast Trail. He had registered them and paid their fees.” This act of desperation reveals how the decision to take up rock climbing can really change the status of even the most fragmented relationships. This new found interest for Barry was an eye-opener in the sense that he underestimated the challenge climbing sixty feet up the cliff would be. During the climb in the story, Barry

also recalls the “frizzy-haired student” that spoke philosophically in the rock climbing class. The actions and words of the girl opened a window for Barry into the personality of a teenage girl and was the key to the decisions Barry made for his daughter. He went from taking the lead up the mountain to allowing Moira to take control and this ultimately gave Barry the proper insight he needed to discover where his interests were at and the and the decisions he made to get there. It displays how experiencing a moment self-discovery during the most fearful moments of your life impacts you in a significant way.
Similarly, self-discovery has played a huge part in my development as a current student and the individual I am pursuing to become.

Everyone at one point has to make a decision on what they want to be when they grow up. For me, that decision came rather unexpectedly and was a result of a new found interest due to self-discovery. It all began when I was around the age of 8 and I watched a documentary on aircraft. It documented all about planes, how they work and the science behind them. I was immediately captivated and gaining all that information as a young child really hit the spot in terms of a new found passion and interest that I could see myself later using. This passion stuck with me ever since as I have spent tons of spare time studying different types of aircraft and collecting model planes. It ultimately helped me with my answer to the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up as being an aeronautical engineer. It is not a career most would pursue, but it shows how self-discovery impacted me at a very young age and the impact is so log lasting that it has influenced most of the decision I make now in terms of courses I take at school and the extracurricular activities I am a part of. Without self-discovery, I was able to gain an understanding of where my interests lay, the abilities I have to acquire complex information and the feelings I had towards my new found interest and

passion.
In short, self-discovery shapes our future and personality. Without it the world would have little to no change as it is a prime example for change, growth and learning. It can mend relationships, as detailed in W.D. Valgardson’s short story “Saturday Climbing”, or assist in the pursuit of a career choice and passion that was a result of an understanding of true feelings and abilities. The main point is that self-discovery surrounds us and the moment we discover our true selves is the moment we gain a hold of the key decisions that can be made to pursue our interests.