Experience Details
Rock climbing was a completely new and exciting challenge for me. Since my upper body and core strength were quite weak, I wanted to use this CAS experience to improve my physical fitness while pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. Over four sessions, I started with basic techniques, gradually progressing as the difficulty increased by limiting the number of holds I could use. My goal was to enhance my endurance, problem-solving skills, and resilience through this activity. Beyond the physical challenge, I aimed to develop mental strength, strategic thinking, and the perseverance required to overcome obstacles both on the wall and in daily life.
Learning Outcomes Achieved
LO 1: This experience helped me recognize my weak upper body strength and actively work to improve it. Initially, I struggled with endurance and grip. I couldn’t push my body up no matter how much I tried, and gripping onto the slippery rocks was very hard. However, by the final session, I had developed better technique and control, learned how to distribute my weight effectively, and was also able to reach the top of the route multiple times.
LO 2: I adapted to increasingly difficult climbs by learning how to strategically place my feet. Each session presented a new challenge, requiring me to rethink my approach and adjust my movements accordingly. I developed better footwork, improved my grip strength, and learned how to plan my climbs in advance rather than making impulsive decisions. This experience helped me understand the importance of patience and problem-solving in overcoming physical challenges.
LO 4: Climbing required repeated attempts and failures, but I remained determined to push forward and complete each challenge. There were moments when I felt frustrated after failing multiple attempts, but I reminded myself that persistence was key. Instead of giving up, I took a minute to relax, strength my grip and then try again with a different strategy. This determination paid off when I successfully completed climbs that had initially seemed impossible. The experience reinforced the value of resilience and taught me that consistent effort leads to improvement over time.
IB Learner Profiles
Risk-Taker: I demonstrated the Learner Profile Risk-Taker by stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring something completely new for me. I decided to accept the physical challenges and use my weaknesses in the best way possible.
Thinker: I demonstrated the learner profile Thinker because during each climb, I had to carefully use different strategies and plan my steps. I mainly made use of criticial thinking skills by analysing the route ahead of me and figuring out where to go next.
Knowledgeable: I demonstrated the learner profile Knowledgable because I explored a completely new discipline for me. During the session, we learn how to properly wear and tighten a harness, how to use a carabiner and ofcourse, how to come down after reaching the top.
Reflective: I demonstrated the learner profile Reflective because after each session/climb, I would try to figure out what I was doing wrong, and what I could have done better. I asked the coaches on how to improve my mistakes, and implemented them on my next climb.
Final Takeaway
The biggest takeaway from this experience was it pushed me in ways that I hadn’t expected. I had to learn to be patient with myself, accept failure, and keep trying until I succeeded. Each climb tested my determination, forcing me to trust my abilities and adapt to different obstacles. This experience definitely taught me that it’s important to keep pushing past discomfort to grow more.