GRIP, Internships Abroad Jumping Outside of My Comfort Zone

Business in Sydney - Sydney, Australia

If you were to ask any of my friends to describe me, the last word they would probably use is reckless.

As someone who doesn’t like taking risks, I always go into any situation with a set plan (in addition to a plan b, c, and d). Admittedly, my desire to always be in control of my surroundings has caused me to keep my guard up and stress out in far too many situations.

Thus, when I agreed to go bungee jumping during a week-long trip to New Zealand following the end of my summer internship, everyone I knew was absolutely shocked.

After working the entire summer as a GRIP intern in Sydney, I wanted to do something memorable to commemorate the end of a life-changing experience. I had grown a lot over the span of two months: I completed my first internship, lived independently in a foreign country, and did something exciting every single weekend, including hiking in the mountains, swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, and seeing an opera at the Sydney Opera House. I felt completely different - far more independent, relaxed, and adventurous (definitely a byproduct of immersing myself in the “laid-back” Australian culture).

I realized that I had become addicted to the change I was so wary of before. I loved doing new projects at work, trying new restaurants, and visiting new places. My fellow GRIP interns and a new environment were the push that I needed to figure out that my fear of missing out far outweighed my fear of messing up.

So when my aunt suggested that I try bungee jumping during my short trip to New Zealand, I did not completely rule out the idea like I probably would have months before.

After doing some research and confirming that New Zealand was one of the safest places to bungee jump, I decided that I would not miss out on a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Much to my parents’ dismay, I spontaneously signed up to jump in Taupo, at the highest bungee jump in New Zealand and the world’s highest water touch bungee.

When it was finally my turn to jump, I was full of nerves. Even though I was safely secured by professionals, I was nervous at the prospect of jumping off a cliff with only an elastic cord preventing me from hitting the water.

After a few seconds of reassuring myself (and being reassured by the professionals), I stepped off the platform, and began what would be the most exhilarating 10 seconds of my life. While the first few moments of me free-falling were absolutely terrifying (evidenced by my loud screams when I first jumped off), once I touched the water with my hands and bounced up, I was overcome with a truly indescribable feeling of elation and relief. I felt completely liberated - it was like all of my worries had washed away. At that moment, I felt like I could do anything.

Although my summer in Australia and New Zealand was filled with many exciting memories, bungee jumping for the first time will always hold an extremely special place in my heart. It represented a moment of immense courage for someone who is normally dictated by worry, as well as the culmination of two months of new experiences and profound personal growth.