Sunday, October 27, 2013

Dreamers and Doers: Stories from Kilimanjaro


Quote from my story in Dreamers and Doers (the photo's me on top of Half Dome after climbing the Regular NW last May).

Some said I was too young. But I think the fact that I was just twelve years old when I went to Tanzania and climbed Kilimanjaro with my dad meant that I still had that fleeting openness to life that comes from having a mind that is not yet fully formed. The scenes and experiences I took in over the course of that trip shaped me in a way that still persists today.

I wrote a bit about what climbing Kilimanjaro meant to me in my story, “Discovering a Certain Grandness of Life,” for Dreamers and Doers. This is a collection of stories, published by the Ladies Trekking Club, by women from across the world whose lives have in some way been shaped by the fact they climbed to the top of Africa; it is an anthology that is edifying, enlightening, and inspiring.

But it’s not actually necessary to travel halfway around the world in order to learn most of the personal lessons that we wrote about. Many of the benefits of travel and adventure can come from simply opening and reading a book. This is the gift this project aims to give to many children who have grown up living in the shadows of Kilimanjaro: every copy of Dreamers and Doers sold provides for a textbook that will be donated to a Tanzanian school.

Take part in these ladies’ adventures and give the gift of education by ordering a copy of Dreamers and Doers here

Me in 2001, trying to keep up with pre-alegbra homework at a camp on Kilimanjaro

6 comments:

Unknown said...

My name is Hannah Malzner and my class and I have read your "peak performance" story in our Code X book and you are a really brave girl. I am interested to hear more information about you!


- Hannah Malzner

Unknown said...

Thanks so much, Hannah! I'm glad you liked reading "Peak Performance," and I'm glad you found my blog!

-Samantha

Unknown said...

Hi.my name is Huzaifa and me and my class just finished reading about you! you seem like a very amazing person and you inspire us so much!i hope to become as successful as you when i grow up. i cant wait to see you soon and congrats on reaching 7 summits cant wait to see what else you have to say.Goodluck! -huzaifa

Ms Marinello said...

Hi, we are class 6-1 from PS 209 in Brooklyn, NY. We read your inspiring story in class. It took a lot of courage to climb all Seven Summits. Did you ever want to give up? Do you have any world records you want to break in 2014? Please write us back! Thank you.

Ms Marinello said...

Hi, we are class 6-1 from PS 209 in Brooklyn, NY. We read your inspiring story in class. It took a lot of courage to climb all Seven Summits. Did you ever want to give up? Do you have any world records you want to break in 2014? Please write us back! Thank you.

Natalie Wheeling said...

Hi! I am Natalie! I also read your "Peak Performance" story in school! You are really cool! You are so inspiring!