Braving New Heights – My Bear Grylls Adventure

Hey guys, I hope you’re all well. Let’s just dive right in shall we?!

For many of us, this student life could mean adjusting to a new way of living, homesickness, pressure of studying, lacking motivation to study, and maybe you’re not feeling it just yet but I’m sure it won’t be long until the work starts mounting up! And then of course there can be financial worries, sickness or poor health conditions or even depression that can sneak in at any point.

I’m not trying to put you off uni, I’ve got good news – WE SHALL OVERCOME!

Sometimes, the thought of braving new heights is scary, it might be something completely out of your comfort zone.

A few weeks ago, I decided to challenge myself and I visited the world’s first Bear Grylls-inspired Adventure Activity Centre at the NEC in Birmingham.

I love, love, love being outdoors so this place was a perfect choice and the weather was oh so lovely.

Snowed under with studying and you just need a fun filled, action-packed experience? I would highly recommend this place – there’s loads of activities to enjoy, archery, snorkelling, indoor sky diving, escape rooms etc.. I chose the high ropes course and it was amazing!

Now I’ve been on rollercoasters in the past, I’ve abseiled and so I thought I was up for the challenge, BUT this, this was completely new.

So there I was, ready for the challenge, feeling so inspired by the positive quotes carefully pinpointed around different areas of the building, standing on the helicopter platform, reassuring my nerves as I read the ‘CALM IS CONTAGIOUS’ quote.

Everyone else just jumped out of the helicopter as if it meant nothing and then it was my turn and I froze – feeling afraid, heart was pounding, hands clenched tightly to the harness, feet feeling stuck like glue to the platform, an overwhelming sense of fear, anxiety, nerves and excitement all rolled up into a ‘me sized ball’ – and I just couldn’t do it!

I had a quiet word with myself to try and shake off the nerves and pull myself together. What was stopping me from moving forward? I’ll tell you. The fear of falling, the fear of trying something for the first time, the fear of failing to try something new, the fear of what people would think of me if I didn’t do it.

The moment that I disengaged my fear, I somehow managed to shift my focus from being super scared, to reaching the other side of the zip line and then I went for it. I screamed all the way across but I did it!

I was so full of adrenaline, I couldn’t wait to get up to the high ropes course, I climbed all four storeys and enjoyed it. Of course I was scared, it’s nowhere near natural for people to be so far from the ground with nothing holding you but a full body harness and having your feet carefully placed on some ropes. Would I do it again? YES.

I didn’t have time to stop by Birmingham Resorts World but that’s a great place to enjoy some good food and relaxation, the views across the beautiful tranquil lake are stunning.

So, from one student to another, when all the odds are against you, when you’re trying desperately to overcome the challenges but there are more obstacles in front of you, when you don’t think you can do it, when you don’t think you have what it takes, when the walls look too high to climb, when you’re ready to give up – remember that YOU CAN!!!

I learned that what I needed to overcome these physical and mental challenges was inside me all along – courage, resilience, confidence, self-esteem – BRAVERY! And you, my fellow students, have it too.

Thank you for reading and have a great weekend.

SBS