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"Reflections From Our Students - Beyond
the Walls of Rock Climbing"
This course summary paper was submitted at the conclusion of a one and a half day Rock Climbing course taught at North Central College, in Naperville, Illinois. Can teambuilding activities with a talking circle incorporated into a basic rock climbing class have a lasting emotional impact on our students? Read on... "Personal Growth Journal for HPE 115" by Jared Rogers: Very little of this paper has to do with the sport of rock climbing. This is about how the experience of one Friday night and the following morning refocused some aspects of my life! Prior to taking this class, I had gone rock climbing three times. I knew the basics about belaying, checking harnesses for safety, and that I would have sore arms after a few hours. My previous climbing experiences were fun, but I could not fully appreciate the experience. The spiritual aspects were missing. I never really considered how a rock climbing experience connected to the bigger picture of life. What was new for me was the concept of "present moment awareness." I am a person who frequently gears my life toward the future. It was refreshing to learn to live in the moment, as one must do when climbing. For me, present moment awareness is all about stripping away the innumerable distractions with which we seem to concern ourselves. While climbing I wasn't worried about the way I looked, or what other people were thinking about me, or anything else that wasn't essential. I focused on each move in the climb; it was a "flow type" experience that centered me. Friday evening the teambuilding activities and the talking circles helped us relax. They "peeled back" the protective psychological layers we build up. The activities allowed us to bond as a class before we learned about the equipment or started climbing. I can honestly say that I have never gotten to know a group of people as fast as I did the sixteen student of our class. In the weeks following our class sessions I have met several people on campus and stopped to talk with all of them. It was refreshing! Not only did we remember each others names but the energy from our experience surfaced immediately. Just the other night, I saw Parisa at Bakers Square (excellent apple pie). She walked over, sat down next to me, put her arm around my shoulders, and talked with me. That's pretty exciting, given that the only other time we really talked was during the Friday night and Saturday morning at the climbing gym. I have experienced another phenomena since our April class meeting. I have been much more laid back in my outlook on life. Things that would have really bothered me six weeks ago now just seem to slide off. I don't give minor irritations major amounts of my energy anymore. I have found myself more light-hearted and happier. Sleeping has also become more plentiful and more invigorating. Another thing I experienced as a result of the teambuilding activities and the talking circles were some lessons about respect. Simple courtesies like saying "thank you" after speaking, and really listening to what others have to say can have a profound effect on human interactions. We witnessed through the sequence of activities that we rarely take time to actively listen to what other people are saying to us. It is easy to forget that the words people say are a reflection of their inner emotions and opinions. A simple gesture like saying "thank you" to others after they have listened and given you their attention is something that shows your appreciation. It was profound. I think the loss of common courtesies, such as, the basic ones of listening to people and saying "thank you" have contributed to the sense of alienation that is prevalent in our society. Integrating the teambuilding into our rock climbing class served as a wake-up call to me (and I think the rest of the class, too). I am really grateful for having had the opportunity to be part of this class. Thank you! |