I gazed across the glistening water of Candlewood Lake, it was great day to be on the water. Our boat zoomed away from the dock the wind rushed through my hair the water splashed into my face. I was excited ,but nervous at the the same time anxious to get out on the water , but afraid because I had never wakeboarded before , so it led me to think I would fail miserably. I started feet are strapped into the rectangular board  that is about as big as two normal sized school desks connected to each other.  I started sitting down in the water behind the boat with a rope in my hand that connected me the boat . I gave the boat driver a hesitant thumbs up , and in a matter of seconds the boat shot forward and with a mighty thrust it pulled me up onto the water. I instantly lost my balance my head smacked against the water and it started to throb .

When I got back up and got ready to go again this time gripping the rope tighter. Once again the driver zoomed the boat forward and I fell, this happen over and over again for about 10 times. Each time was more painful than the last.

I was bummed, I felt like I should just give up because I would never be able to wakeboard.  I decided I had to keep on trying because I knew that I would eventually be able to wakeboard. So I got back on the wakeboard ready to go I grasped the rope clenching my fists around it tightly my adrenaline was pumping rapidly my heart pounded faster and faster each second. I closed my eyes and imaged the thrill I would feel if I got up on the board then with a sudden jolt the boat zoomed forward , but something was different this time I felt more in control it felt like the world stopped and it was just me and my board. I pivoted my feet and that when it clicked I was overcome with pure joy I was actually doing it I was wakeboarding. I carved through the waves water left to right but it was a choppy day out on the water it got extremely bumpy. I bounced up and down like I was manning a jackhammer and finally lost balance it felt like I was falling down into the water in slow motion but when I  crashed down into the water it felt nothing like a slow fall but more like getting throw 100 mph at concrete.

All and all, that fall was just a small price to pay for the ride of my life. I knew that joy ride would have never happened if I gave up when I was getting down on myself. From now on whenever something is difficult for me  I look back on this experience I visualize me on my board gracefully cruising through the waves and it helps me gain strength and confidence to overcome any challenge I face in my life. This one little short ride on a wakeboard taught me on big lesson that will last a lifetime the lesson to  never give up.