On Friday, Feb. 27, I tried rock climbing for the first time. The event was organized by PRSSA, and I walked in feeling excited but also a little nervous. I arrived a bit late, just in time to watch two girls already making their way up the wall.

Standing there and looking up, I felt something I did not expect -- fear. The wall suddenly looked very high. For a moment, I imagined falling, even though I have never been afraid of heights before. But watching them climb gave me a different thought -- if they can do it, maybe I can too.

When it was finally my turn, one of our professors helped me put on the harness and explained the rules. In rock climbing, safety is everything. The harness secures you to the rope, and a belayer, the person managing the rope, makes sure you are supported the entire time. I listened carefully, but the moment still felt surreal.

Then I heard the words, “Are you ready? You’re safe. You can climb.”

That was the moment I decided to stop overthinking. I placed my hands on the first holds and started climbing. At first, every step felt uncertain. I focused on where to place my hands and feet as I slowly moved up the wall. My first climbs were on 5.6 and 5.7 routes, which are considered beginner-friendly, but still challenging for someone who has never climbed before.

But something unexpected happened as I climbed higher. The fear disappeared. Instead, I felt a rush of excitement and focus. When you climb, you cannot think about anything else. You concentrate on the next hold, the next step, the next move. Suddenly, all the other worries in your mind become quiet.

When I finally touched the floor, I felt a simple yet powerful feeling of pride. It may seem like a small achievement, but moments like that matter. They remind you that sometimes the only thing standing between you and something new is the fear of trying.

Rock climbing is often portrayed as a sport of strength, endurance and height. But for me, it became something more. It was about challenging myself and seeing my own abilities from a different perspective.

If you can climb higher than you thought you could, maybe you can also apply for the job you are unsure about. Maybe you can speak up even if you worry about sounding awkward. Maybe you can try something new, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

In many ways, life works like climbing. We reach for something higher, sometimes slip, sometimes feel embarrassed, and sometimes fail. But every step still moves us closer to where we want to go.

By the end of the event, I realized rock climbing is not just about reaching the top of a wall. It is about realizing that you are stronger than you think, and sometimes all it takes is one climb to see it.