As the clouds parted from last Friday morning’s rain storm, adventure was the feeling in the air at California State University, Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) high ropes course.
With bold aspirations and muddy feet, around 25 brave students from CSUMB’s International Club strapped in, preparing to challenge themselves at the university’s newly reopened obstacle course. The high ropes are located on the frisbee golf course behind the Tanimura and Antle Family Memorial Library.
With obstacles such as the Giant’s Ladder, Burma Bridge and the Catwalk constructed from various suspended arrangements of poles, ropes and wires, students had no shortage of novel challenges to attempt.
In addition to many American students, the event brought international students together to test their bodies and minds against the lofty heights of the ropes course.
“I’d done things like this, but it was a really long time ago … I wasn’t that scared, but one time I attempted to take a big step and I completely lost control,” said Moroccan international student Reda Berrada Allam, after a successful crossing of the catwalk.
As participants waited in line for each obstacle, the air was filled with the sound of many different languages, as students hailing from all corners of the world got to know each other, comparing their cultures and life experiences.
“It’s better to be on the ground … I’m a new man now”, said Berrada Allam after returning to solid earth, glowing with achievement, though a little weak in the knees.
For Taiwanese international student, Cindy Lee, despite feeling “so afraid,” once back on the ground, she was eager for more, saying that “I want to try again and go to the top.”
The event was hosted by CSUMB Recreation’s Experiential Learning Center, who promoted a spirit of “challenge by choice.” This motto emphasizes empowering students to face their fears in ways that feel manageable to them through intrinsic motivation rather than pressure or expectation.
Students willing to ascend the various obstacles were met with wholehearted encouragement and praise from their peers, regardless of whether they reached the top or were satisfied with the view from halfway.
Though many began the day full of nerves, the supportive environment had many students eager to step outside of their comfort zones. “I’m not too great with heights but I’m gonna beat that fear,” said first-year Michael Garland.
It seemed that students were gaining something more than a simple thrill from challenging themselves at the high ropes course: another form of education, perhaps.
“We tend to focus on things like communication, team building activities … kind of the cherry on top is the high ropes element,” said Thistle Adams, an experiential learning center specialist.
According to Adams, “The groups, students, staff and faculty leave having learned a little something about themselves, having gotten together and kind of a tighter, more communal feeling with their group.”
