I am a snowboarding fanatic. "Isn't it too dangerous?" is always the first question my family friends ask. Indeed, going downhill at speeds exceeding thirty miles-per-hour can be dangerous, as there is always the risk of injury through falls or collisions. Not knowing what to expect, I started out snowboarding with the sole intent to satisfy my urge for a little adventure. But over the years, snowboarding has impacted me in ways that I had never imagined it would.
I grew up in a traditional Chinese home. Like most Chinese immigrants, my parents strongly believe that the only way to get ahead in society is through education, a belief deeply rooted in Confucian philosophy; however, this emphasis on education tends to cultivate risk-averse behavior in other aspects of life. This partly explains why playing instruments is the overwhelming choice of hobby for children in Chinese families. I was no exception.
I began taking piano lessons at the age of six. While music was engaging, deep down I…show more content… As I advanced through the levels of difficulty from Green to Blue, to Black, and finally to Double Black Diamond, I was constantly being challenged. Often times, despite the amount of hours I practiced, I failed my attempts at performing a trick or going down a certain trail. I could not help but wonder if I had hit the proverbial "glass ceiling." There is nothing more frustrating than the feeling that you have reached the limit of your physical capabilities, that no number of hours of practice can improve you, that even "mastering" the Double Black Diamond is no longer a real feat. However, after each failure, I forced myself out of the snow and rode the ski lift back up the mountain to try again. When I finally succeeded, I realized that I had found that something I had been searching for. Thrill. Persistence. Satisfaction. I was on top of the