Anna’s Story of “I Can!”

At a recent climbing program on February 19th, in partnership with Hope Center of Hendersonville, we explored the theme “Challenge and Support.” We talked about how real growth happens when we stretch ourselves, and how we can do that best when we know we’re supported.

One participant, Anna, chose a climbing route with determination. She stepped onto the wall, moving slowly and intentionally. But as the height increased, so did her hesitation. A few feet off the ground, she paused and whispered, “I can’t do this.” After trying to encourage her upward, it became clear she wasn’t going any higher. She came down, but only after promising she’d try again later.

A little while after watching her peers climb, Anna was ready. This time, we added an assistance system- a rope setup designed to give a gentle boost when a climber feels stuck – and one of our staff climbed alongside her for extra support. With both challenge and support in place, something shifted.

Hand by hand, step by step, Anna kept going until she reached the top. When she lowered back to the ground, she lay on her back with a huge grin. The first words out of her mouth were:
“I rock climbed!”

Yes, Anna. You did. You climbed. You tried again. And you discovered that you can do more than you think.
Moments like this are exactly why Waypoint Adventure NC exists. Your support helps people of all abilities experience challenge, discover strength, and find joy in saying, “I did it.”