Written by Peyton Spurr ’19.

Throughout our life we are told to step out of our comfort zones. Many people do not accept this challenge; however, I did. On a brisk September day a few empowering women and I stepped out of our comfort zones to hike a difficult mountain. As a fundraiser for Go! Malawi, we hiked nine miles up Mt. Monadnock to represent the challenges young girls just like me face.

In Malawi, public education is not free for girls after 8th grade. Their choices at that point are to find a way to pay for school or get married. I believe they are still so young and should be able to have the opportunity to continue their education. That is why I took up the challenge.

Attending a private high school and having the chance to pursue my dreams made me realize that I should help make that dream a reality for someone else. Who better than a girl my age with the same passions? I am supporting a girl named Chrissy. She is 16 years old, like me, and is enthusiastic about biology, just like me.  I am now fundraising $450 dollars to support Chrissy’s dreams.

Had I known I was the only hiker under the age of 40, I might have reconsidered the trip up Mt. Monadnock. Instead I spent twelve hours bonding with these women (and discovering that teachers do indeed have lives!). I stepped out of my comfort zone and accomplished a 9-mile hike with a group women who now know my life story–and I did it all for Chrissy.