My first reaction when I heard that we were going to Darien Lake was starting trembling. "An amusement park?" "Does it mean roller coasters?" "Never try those dangerous scary things." That is what I thought in my mind.
Honestly speaking, I have never taken a roller coaster before. I still remember when I was a little kid, I went to an amusement park with my mum and took a pirate ship ride. As soon as I landed on the ground I threw up badly, which left me with a deep mental obstacle. After that experience I never tried to ride a roller coaster and I thought I would not able to ride one anymore.
I can still remember what happened yesterday when I was tied onto the roller coaster, which was the first instrument we took. I actually did not realize the wooden structure was a roller coaster when I queue for it. (I might have not tried for it as usual if I knew it was a roller coaster.) I started to get worried when the roller coaster climbing up the slope slowly with the "KA KA" noise, which make me feel awful. When it accelerated down the slope, I felt my heart was floating in the sky. After several turns the roller coaster was back to original position in a short time. Besides a slight dizziness I did not feel uncomfortable when I step on the ground. After the ride, I persuaded myself that roller coaster is exciting and safe; fear is the only thing prevent me from it; if I am able to finish this ride I will be able to take all the rides.
My friends and I took five rides of roller coaster in total, which sort of compensate my lack of excitement for the past few years. I even sit at front roll twice in the five rides. I guess I have already overcome the mental obstacle. Maybe sometimes the only thing prevents people from success is their belief that they will never success. Once they start to believe in themselves they are one step nearer to their goal.
Tianhao, I love how you compare your first experience riding something like a roller coaster, the pirate ship, ever! with your experience of riding the first roller coaster at Darien Lake. I love the lesson at the end, too -- the idea that believing in yourself can help you overcome some of your fears, even those that are associated from some really bad memories from childhood.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious if you're interested in making this post more interactive with your audience -- might you include links and/or pictures to the rides you are talking about?
I agree with Kate - I really like the way you conclude and relate this to a larger life lesson. What other roller coasters did you go on? Was the experience sitting in front different? How?
ReplyDelete