Upside-Down Day

I'm not a risk taker. And you could be saying, 'Than why are you writing a blog about conquering your summer and trying new things?" Well, that's exactly it. I am writing this blog because I want to push myself to be more adventurous and less afraid to make this summer a memorable one.

I'm in a Summer Scholar Program at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Not only are students taking a course in this program, we are being taken on activities pre-planned by the advisors who work here. An activity yesterday was going to the Six Flags amusement park here in Chicago. I had never been on a roller coaster that went upside down in my entire life. The most invigorating ride I ever had been on was Space Mountain at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

So, going into Six Flags with the mind-set that I wanted to finally go on a roller coaster that went up-side down, I did it.  It was on BATMAN: The Ride where I went through vertical loops that propelled my body through the air and upside down (with some Batman theme music in the background, of course.)

But not only did I want to go on a roller coaster that went upside down, I wanted to enjoy the experience.

And I did.

A loop like this one was similar to the first upside roller coaster I experienced.

The rest of the day at Six Flags was filled with my wanting to try every single ride that I used to think was scary. I proceeded to  go on SUPERMAN: Ultimate Flight, Raging Bull, and X Flight, which are all rides that have a "maximum thrill rate" on the amusement park's website.  It was a whole new world not needing to hesitate at every ride wondering if it went upside down or if I would think it's too scary. I feel like I really did accomplish something that will benefit me the rest of my life.

If you ever felt like you'd get too scared if you went on an upside-down roller coaster, that's the perfect reason to do it. But, I wouldn't recommend eating at a Johnny Rockets before you head on the ride Superman.