"When men climb mountains together, the rope
between them is more than a physical aid to the ascent, it is a symbol of the
spirit of enterprise. It is a symbol of men banded together in a common effort
of will and strength against their own true enemies: inertia, cowardice, greed,
ignorance, and all weaknesses of spirit." - Charles Houston
Higher Mountains
I was thinking today about all the things I’ve accomplished
over the past several years. I’ve
graduated from college. I’ve hiked Longs
Peak, four other 14ers, and at least fifteen other mountains peaks. I’ve run a half marathon, and up a few
thousand foot climbs. I’ve been accepted
to five universities, one of them is one of the top schools in the nation for
my chosen field. It is located in
Boulder, CO one of the most beautiful cities in the nation. I did all these things simply because they
were hard, and because I didn’t really believe I could accomplish them. Then I did.
Before all this, I failed. I failed badly. Many times. I quit Purdue engineering. I flunked out of another university, and I quit running. Then I went back to Purdue and failed again.. Then in 2010 I got back up. I went to Colorado for the first time. I hiked a hundred or more miles. I went back to college and two years later I graduated. December 2012. Then I hiked Longs Peak. August 2013. Then I saw the western United States. October 2013. Then I had my first experience as a manager. May to October 2014. Then I climbed three 14ers in one day. September 2014. Then I was accepted to five universities. January through April 2015. Then I ran my first half marathon April 2015. Then I chose to, "Be Boulder" at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Also, April 2015.
Now I must find new challenges, bigger challenges, and higher
mountains. And I will. And when I do, I will climb them and fail
many times. But I will reach those
peaks, because I can, and I will lead other people to the same heights, because
I must. This is what I do, and who I am. I will follow others to those places
sometimes, and other times blaze my own path of fire in the darkness. This is what we do as human beings. Reach for the stars, the mountain tops, the
bottoms of the oceans, the moon.. and farther.
Let’s solve the worlds’ problems. Let’s go that extra mile. Let’s not forget our failures, but surpass
them. Let’s go to the moon again. Let’s go to Mars. Let’s stop war. Let’s halt climate change. Let’s simplify the most complex of
problems. Let’s move on. Go forward.
Reach higher. Because this is what we do, and who we are.
May 19th, 2015
Nick Whittemore
