It’s 100 degrees, the sun is burning my shoulders, my feet are burning on this platform. It’s ten A.M. in Texas, where I landed a few hours ago. I haven’t slept in 31 hours, and here I am, on a 65-foot cliff. I look around, there’s five hundred eyes on me that I can see. An ESPN camera crew to my left, livestreaming to half a million more. Everyone is waiting for me. Not a single person knows it, but between the eyes, cameras, and height, this is my biggest fear. My heart is beating uncontrollably, I’m shaking, and only I know that I’m about to have a panic attack. Luckily, I’ve been here before, and I do what any normal person would do. Scream at the crowd, act bigger than life, chin up, arms raised like Russel Crowe in Gladiator. Once I can’t hear myself think over the sounds of cheering, it’s time. Three deep breaths, three big steps. No more solid ground, I’m floating, parallel with the water now. When the water is just three feet away, I fold my fists to my feet and tuck my head. That entire ordeal took less than ten seconds. Making the choice to take on my fears and become a sponsored athlete in death diving, an extreme sport focused around landing on your face from high places, has shaped me in numerous ways. This sport has led me to build confidence, recognize my capabilities, take on challenges and destroy a need for a ‘comfort zone’. Choosing to be part of the sport has allowed me the confidence to take a leap of faith in myself. That confidence has led to my decision to start my own tiny-home business and seek higher education. I approach challenges headfirst, with a smile, and no matter how large they seem, it’s nothing compared to falling through the air towards the water face first.