The second week of my stay was just as memorable as the first. Most of my friends in Houghton are scuba certified, so naturally, a scuba trip was planned. I, however, am not certified — and likely never will be — thanks to a fear of drowning. Marcus didn’t want me to feel left out, so he suggested snorkeling instead. I was hesitant; it was late September, the water in Lake Superior was cold, and staying warm has never been my strong suit. Still, I decided to give it a try.
Once we arrived and geared up, the boys brought along a metal detector, hammer, and chisel in an attempt to locate underwater copper. While they were busy with that, I floated on the surface watching them, happy to be participating in spirit. After a while — and after finding only a little bit of copper — Marcus decided to swim around with me.
With a lot of convincing on his part, he handed me a big rock to hold (so I’d sink) and let me breathe off his second regulator. We were only about six feet underwater, so it wasn’t anything dangerous. Still, I was nervous — not just because of my fear of drowning, but also because of the arm Marcus had tucked around my waist (respectfully) to keep me close. It ended up being one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. It was surreal to stay underwater that long, completely still except for the slow sound of our shared breathing and the shimmer of light above us.
Later that week, I went rock climbing at a place called Bear Bluff. It took us about an hour of hiking to get there. Once we arrived, the more experienced climbers set up ropes and rappelled down the cliff to make sure everything was safe for the rest of us — the non-professionals. Now, I also have a big fear of heights, and I wasn’t totally sure I wanted to dangle myself off the edge of a cliff. But everyone else did it, so I thought, why not?
And honestly, it was incredible. My arms were sore for days, but it was so worth it. The view was unreal — it was fall, and the trees were changing colors like nobody’s business.
By the end of the week, I hadn’t earned any official certifications, but I had gained something more important. I faced fears I never expected to confront, tried things I never thought I’d do, and discovered a resilience I didn’t know I had. Not certified, just determined — and it reminded me what I’m capable of.
Drifted Form 