Life

Accomplishment- To finish successfully; To complete, as time or distance; To bring to an issue of full success; to effect; to perform; to execute fully; to fulfill. 


Every person has a path set out for themselves that is full of dreams and goals they have set. The journey to reach your dreams may not always be an easy one, and will be filled with many road blocks, but with every road block comes a new challenge for you to face and one more thing in life you have accomplished. As children we heard the phrase "you can be anything you want to be" preached to us by our parents and teachers. It is true, but what they never told us was how hard it was going to be. Knowing that in less then two years I will be out in the "real" world, I had been dead set on figuring out what I wanted to do in life, but that rapidly changed. And so my story begins...

Last November I was hired with the 6th Judicial Department of Correctional Services as a Reserve High Risk Unit Officer. Going through the Academy,not being able to run track (injury after injury), dealing with school, and everything else life had to throw at me always had me in a terrible mood. I have never been the type of person to have bad days everyday, so I needed a way to re-find myself. I wanted to get away from everything, and from Iowa. I ended up in Estes Park, Colorado in a small cabin with six other girls, and beautiful mountains all around us. I had responsibility out there, but nothing like what I did back home. I rode horses Monday-Saturday giving tours on Giant Track Mountain (I still miss my baby Veda, greatest guide horse:) I had plenty of time to think about things, and came to the conclusion that I just needed to live and not worry about anything else; so that's what I did with the help of the people I worked with. We traveled the longest, highest paved road to the top of the Continental Divide (above picture). We witnessed the World's Largest Outdoor Rodeo in Cheyenne Wy. 

We even climbed Flattop Mountain (9 mile hike to reach 12,324 ft.). We pushed through a thunderstorm where a park ranger came running down from the top and told us it would be best to turn around and head home. But that was the last thing we wanted to do, we had our hearts set on climbing all the way up. Just like life, we had a road block to overcome, and it was well worth it in the end. I spent the most amazing 7 hours on top of the world with two of my good friends (Ashley(r) and Meg(L)).

 Throughout the summer I knew what I had been missing in my life, and that was taking chances and doing things out of the norm. My life had always been ran by structure; I always knew what was around the corner, so nothing surprised me. Out there I had nothing close to structure, and I LOVED it! I learned a lot about myself and others. It was hard living with six other girls; you could only imagine some of things that were said, but I don't like to remember the bad, only the good times we all shared with each other (the bear breaking into our cabin, the early mornings, late nights, and interesting conversations). We all had our differences, and clashed at times, but I truly miss everyone of them...well almost everyone of them. 


This summer has taught me to live life to the fullest, still follow my set path but add risks. Fail at times but keep picking myself up and to never step back. I know it may be a long journey ahead of me, but I also know it will be well worth it. If there is one thing I want readers to take from this it has to be -"Never give up on your dreams, accomplishments will happen to those how keep trudging through the game we call life. Always keep your head held high, and know that great things will shortly come your way." <3