On August 15th, 2016, I checked off skydiving from my bucket list after eagerly anticipating the day and struggling to sleep the night before. To prepare for this unforgettable adventure, both my partner and best friend joined me in a two-hour class where we learned all the necessary information. We were excited to document our experience with videos and pictures.
Despite lacking the same bravery, I made the choice to stay silent when my partner told me about his plan to film himself in the sky. My intention was to keep my eyes closed for the entire experience. Even though my best friend tried to convince me otherwise, telling me to embrace and not miss out on a long-awaited moment, I hesitated. On the day of our skydiving adventure, we arrived at the designated location and found the rest of the group already gathered. There were a total of five people registered for the August Summer skydiving program, including us. The scheduled meeting time was 9am and we got there around 8:40am. At exactly 9am, the leader of the Skydiving center spoke to us, giving an overview of rules and instructions while addressing any questions we had. After that, we were given overalls and other items that were attached to our bodies.
After being fully prepared, we boarded the plane and were greeted by the pilots who gave us instructions. Unfortunately, I had a hard time understanding them because my heart was pounding. While I hesitated to take photos, my partner happily snapped away. Once we were seated and belted in, we took off with me as number four and my partner as number three. As we ascended higher into the sky, my anxiety grew to the point where I felt sick and saw double. Our flight continued north until we reached our designated landing area where Lisa, a member of our group, was called forward first. With confidence, she connected with her skydiving partner and blew us a kiss before leaping from the plane alongside her attendant.
Each of us were assigned a sky diving instructor. When Lisa dived, Audrey quickly connected with her instructor without any fear. She even took out her Canon Camera and asked the instructor to secure it so she could capture a scenic view. My best friend, who was also my partner, went next. He bid me farewell, snapped a selfie, and leaped off. Then it was my turn. As the moment arrived, everything seemed to come to a halt. I was securely fastened to my instructor, who sensed my unease and guided me through breathing exercises to relax. He reassured me that there was nothing to be afraid of. Once he saw that I had become sufficiently calm, he gave me a signal indicating it was time to dive.
Despite my apprehension about losing consciousness, I mustered the bravery to open my eyes and witness the attendant pulling the parachute. This action instilled a sense of tranquility within me. Extending my fingers through the clouds, I shouted with all my might, savoring the taste of clouds on my lips. The immense rush of excitement made me realize that one of my cherished childhood aspirations had finally been fulfilled.
