Day 31: What was the Most Amazing Thing You Did When You were 16?
She’s home.
Yep, 16-year old Jessica Watson is back home in Sydney after seven-month of solo sailing around the world. The journey is also non-stop and unassisted. Yes, you read that right. Imagine being on a rough sea alone, handling the boat through the storms, eating rations and the only human contact accessible is through your computer… for seven months.
Jessica was set to be the youngest person to sail around the globe solo. However, critics and sailing purists claim that she has not met the requirement set by World Sailing Speed Record Council of “the shortest orthodromic track of the vessel must be at least 21,600 nautical miles in length.” By that standard, hers was apparently “only” 19,631.6 nm. The Council (along with other record-keeping organizations) also stopped recognizing the youngest record pursuit due to its controversy.
World record or not, most of us would agree that she has achieved something extraordinary. Her achievement is remarkable on so many levels. Today, she’s greeted by the Prime Minister as she stepped off Ella’s Pink Lady. Many shed tears, most cheers and the whole Australia is proud of Miss Watson.
Looking back, the most extraordinary thing I did when I was 16 was the ability to reverse parallel park my parents’ car without sending it to another paint job.
Having a lofty goal and pursuing it when you are that young has its own advantage. First of all, you are less fearful (maybe fearless) and more focused to the goal rather than the challenges. You experience fewer failures and the trauma associated with it. You pay little attention to risks and keep your eye on the rewards. You think that you can take the world… and believe it. People keep telling you of your potential and the big future ahead of you… and believe it. Ah, the youth idealism. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive people, like Jessica’s parents, your chance is even higher.
On the other hand, when you tell the world that you will circumnavigate the globe solo at 16 (not to mention that you’re a girl!), a lot of well-meaning but skeptical adults will tell you to stay at home and come back in a few years. Jessica’s voyage started with a hiccup when her boat collided with a 63,000-tonne freighter during a test run. Immediately the critics came out warning her lack of navigational skills and maturity to complete the journey. Many criticized her parents for supporting her dream and condemned them to be irresponsible parents. But then again these people didn’t know her as well as her parents did.
Knowing the risks prevents you from carrying out risky behaviours that could potentially harm you. Sometimes I still shudder if I remember how I casually met my online chat “friends” (read: strangers) during my teen years. I didn’t realize the potential danger I was in. What if they were serial killer or pedophile? Luckily the most dangerous online “friend” I met was a smug chap who was way too friendly. I ran off after 10 minutes.
Knowing the risks could also be paralyzing. If you know the 1,453 ways how things could go wrong in the sea or the 734 ways your business could fail, would you attempt to sail around the world alone or be an entrepreneur?
They say the biggest obstacle that stands between you and your dream is yourself.
If you are set to accomplish something extraordinary that you’ve never done before, would you research and prepare vigorously until you are satisfied or would you obtain the minimum required knowledge and off sailing? What was the biggest achievement you had when you were 16?
Photo by dongato.
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At 16, I would just expect it to magically happen, so I wouldn't prepare much for a sailing of any sort. My parents would never have let me go anyway. Kudos to Jessica, what a great accomplishment!
Hmmm, what was the biggest thing that I accomplish when I was 16…?
Getting my driving license and my first official tax paying job (bag boy at a grocery store). Lame huh…
I know! My parents would never have let me do it. I had to sneak out to drive the car.
Is that Learner’s Permit? That’s quite a young age to obtain a driving license.
I sailed a lot and definitely dreamed of doing the same thing. At least until my first blue water experience. I still love it, but I know I am not willing to deal with that! –
More power to Jessica!
While I have not experienced it, for five years I literally read only non-fiction stories about solo-circumnavigation; from Joshua Slocum (The first ever?) to Dove, another story about a 16 year old boy that did it in the early 70's. Most people don't realize what is really involved, it is a monumental accomplishment for anyone, let alone a 16 year old!
For me 16 was all about making money to buy a car. However, I did finish building myself a small sailboat at 16. A one-year project only took me 4! And…. I too was a bag boy! It might of been lame but I got to flirt with all the cute girls!
Haha, I suppose the bag boy is not really that lame after all.
I used my parents' car as a mobile boutique in high school. My sister and I sourced cheap and stylish clothes then sold them to our friends. Not a bad business had we saved the profit, haha… We went on shopping spree and spent our 8-month profit within a few days.
Wow! Building a sailboat at 16? Do you still have the picture?
No wonder you built that bunk bed for your kids. Some people are just handy. I can't even fix the squeaky door.
Yikes I think the coolest thing I did was get my driver’s license. I’ll make sure to take my own children skydiving or cage diving with great whites so they have something awesome to reflect back on!
FinEngr´s last blog ..Don’t Be Fooled by Sneaky Labeling!
Well, you gotta do it yourself first. I've been thinking about going skydiving but still too chickened out about it. Apparently George Bush Sr. did it for his 80th birthday. Good on ya, Pop.
I walked with penguins in Argentina and put myself through my first year of long-distance high school courses since I didn't think I could handle Mom as a teacher while we lived out of the USA…
Wow, long distance high school! Was it better than the traditional form? I imagine you didn't have the scary experience of dealing with intimidating people, but did you miss out on social parts of it?
I considered myself very brave at 16, but no where near brave enough to have sailed around the world. And my parents would never have allowed it! They didn't even let me get my driver's license until I was 18.
As for the bravest (stupidest) thing I did at 16 was climb out my bedroom window in the middle of the night to go hang with my friends. Only to sneak back inside before dawn. At 16, you think you are invincible!
Haha, so true! At 16, I thought I was smarter than my parents. We all did. Didn't have the sneaking out experience though; my parents would have kicked my bum.
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I don't think I did anything cool at 16, but at 17 I taught myself the theory special relativity and derived the Lorentz equations geometrically (dork alert!).
Interestingly enough, there was a competing attempt from another 16 or 17 yo sailor. She had to be pulled off the boat after her mast broke in 40 ft waves in a winter storm in the Indian ocean. I got great respect for the bravery of these girls. Heck, 12 feet waves is enough to make me queasy.
As far as I'm concerned, most INTJs are proud nerds
That is cool what you did then.
Abby Sunderland, yes we heard about her unfortunate and untimely end of her journey. I can't imagine doing it at all. But then again there are crazy (read: stupid) things I did when I was 16 (such as meeting strangers) out of naivety, not bravery.
Thanks for dropping by, Jacob.