Soaring to new heights
Soaring to new heights Fischer discovered her identity at Creek through SOAR and COLT Club
By Renee Novitsky Co-Editor-in-Chief
Sami Fischer is a soon-to-be graduate of Cherry Creek who began high school with little idea of where it would take her. She, like most freshmen, was very timid, unconfident, and unsure of where she belonged. She watched in the background as so many of her peers discovered their talents, hobbies, and interests. That is, until she attended her first Adventure class at Creek. In the Adventure class, students climb rope courses, develop trust between their classmates through team-building activities, and have the opportunity to eventually learn great leadership skills. Fischer learned that after finishing the Adventure course, she could sign up for Adventure Leadership Train-
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ing (ALT) and end up name games, and eventeaching an Adventure tually initiates the more class of her own. risky team-building Student Outdoor Ad- activities. Some activiventure Representatives ties involve having the (SOAR) is the club that group-assigned puzzles Fischer spends much of that force them to work her senior year in now, together, while some acthe club for Adventure tivities are more dangerLeaders. The SOAR ous and require students members help turn students on Sami Fischer takes a selfie on the the course course. into a team through team-building activities. The class will, with their adventure leaders, perform trust falls; a student will fall from about five feet off the ground into the arms of their classmates, some of whom they
The ice climbing trip in Ouray, Colorado that Fischer went on with COLT Club.
have never met before. Fischer led an Adventure class during seventh period her entire senior year. She starts the class by getting the group comfortable with each other through
to belay other students while they climb. Many students, like Fischer, involved in SOAR are also involved in Creek Outdoor Leadership Training, or COLT, Club. COLT Club sponsors outdoor trips such as rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, ice climbing, kayak nights, and many more. Any students are welcome to attend any of these trips. Fischer has been on two COLT club trips. On
her first trip, she went rock climbing in Golden, CO. “It was very therapeutic to be out
Sami Fischer’s first rock climbing trip with COLT Club.
there with nature and to be able to focus on just climbing. I got to bond with other people and develop trust with them, because they were belaying me. This environment inspired me to join climbing team,” Fischer said. Fischer admires the non-competitive atmosphere of climbing and the encouragement she receives from those climbing with her. Her favorite trip, ironically, was the overnight ice climbing trip she went on in Ouray, CO, where she ended up breaking her leg. “They managed it really well. I was able to have a good time despite [breaking my leg] on the first day. I realized that the trips aren’t only about doing physical things and climbing; it’s also about the community that is built,” Fischer said. “Building a
community is the whole idea behind COLT and SOAR. Those people had to haul me out of the canyon for a mile and a half; it was really a bonding experience. If I was with any other group of people, whether it be my family or a tour guide, I wouldn’t have been nearly as comfortable.” Fischer admits she was not a confident person her freshman and sophomore years, but taking ALT put her in an encouraging environment, so she could step outside her comfort zone. Fischer is also co-president of Big Sisters, a community service club. She says she would not have had the confidence to apply for such a rewarding and high-ranked position if SOAR and COLT Club did not spark her confidence. Fischer believes leadership is not about being better than anyone else, it’s about being passionate with what you do and spreading that passion to other people. Fischer plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall.
By Renee Novitsky Co-Editor-in-Chief
Sami Fischer is a soon-to-be graduate of Cherry Creek who began high school with little idea of where it would take her. She, like most freshmen, was very timid, unconfident, and unsure of where she belonged. She watched in the background as so many of her peers discovered their talents, hobbies, and interests. That is, until she attended her first Adventure class at Creek. In the Adventure class, students climb rope courses, develop trust between their classmates through team-building activities, and have the opportunity to eventually learn great leadership skills. Fischer learned that after finishing the Adventure course, she could sign up for Adventure Leadership Train-
24
ing (ALT) and end up name games, and eventeaching an Adventure tually initiates the more class of her own. risky team-building Student Outdoor Ad- activities. Some activiventure Representatives ties involve having the (SOAR) is the club that group-assigned puzzles Fischer spends much of that force them to work her senior year in now, together, while some acthe club for Adventure tivities are more dangerLeaders. The SOAR ous and require students members help turn students on Sami Fischer takes a selfie on the the course course. into a team through team-building activities. The class will, with their adventure leaders, perform trust falls; a student will fall from about five feet off the ground into the arms of their classmates, some of whom they
The ice climbing trip in Ouray, Colorado that Fischer went on with COLT Club.
have never met before. Fischer led an Adventure class during seventh period her entire senior year. She starts the class by getting the group comfortable with each other through
to belay other students while they climb. Many students, like Fischer, involved in SOAR are also involved in Creek Outdoor Leadership Training, or COLT, Club. COLT Club sponsors outdoor trips such as rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, ice climbing, kayak nights, and many more. Any students are welcome to attend any of these trips. Fischer has been on two COLT club trips. On
her first trip, she went rock climbing in Golden, CO. “It was very therapeutic to be out
Sami Fischer’s first rock climbing trip with COLT Club.
there with nature and to be able to focus on just climbing. I got to bond with other people and develop trust with them, because they were belaying me. This environment inspired me to join climbing team,” Fischer said. Fischer admires the non-competitive atmosphere of climbing and the encouragement she receives from those climbing with her. Her favorite trip, ironically, was the overnight ice climbing trip she went on in Ouray, CO, where she ended up breaking her leg. “They managed it really well. I was able to have a good time despite [breaking my leg] on the first day. I realized that the trips aren’t only about doing physical things and climbing; it’s also about the community that is built,” Fischer said. “Building a
community is the whole idea behind COLT and SOAR. Those people had to haul me out of the canyon for a mile and a half; it was really a bonding experience. If I was with any other group of people, whether it be my family or a tour guide, I wouldn’t have been nearly as comfortable.” Fischer admits she was not a confident person her freshman and sophomore years, but taking ALT put her in an encouraging environment, so she could step outside her comfort zone. Fischer is also co-president of Big Sisters, a community service club. She says she would not have had the confidence to apply for such a rewarding and high-ranked position if SOAR and COLT Club did not spark her confidence. Fischer believes leadership is not about being better than anyone else, it’s about being passionate with what you do and spreading that passion to other people. Fischer plans to attend Colorado State University in the fall.
