HW2: Touching The Void

1. What types of goals are involved with climbing this mountain?

Both types of goals are involved with climbing this mountain, the short term goals and the long term goals. Joe and Simon have the same long term goals that is climbing the mountain that no one has ever climbed before. In order to do achieve their main goal, they have already set up their short term goals before, like having a lot of training and climbing experience.

2. What types of goals are involved in Joe's decent?

Actually both types of goals are involved in Joe's decent. His long term goal or main goal is reaching the camp. In order to reach that goal, he has to make several short term goals, like looking for water and food. Without those short term plans, reaching his main goal seems to be impossible because of his injury. By making short term goals, achieving his main goal is easier because everything is well-planned.

3. Would you have cut the rope? Why or why not?

To be honest, if I were Simon, I would have cut the rope. Not cutting the rope doesn't make any sense. After waiting for about an hour, risking my own life in a snowstorm, I would assume that my partner had died, though I can still feel his body weight through the rope. Logically, if my partner were still alive he would have helped and secured himself, and not becoming a burden for me. Waiting for a longer time is just pointless, and can possibly double the victims. I think everyone will do the same, cutting the rope that connects us.

4. Look at the statements made by Joe below. What truth about life does each hold? Feel free to use scenarios to help explain your answers.

a. "What I had to deal/face with was so big I could not deal with it."
This statement mentions that in this life, there a lot of things and situations which we can't deal with, like losing our parents. No one is able to deal with something like that, thus, we need the other people's help and assistance.

b. "I had to keep making decisions whether they were right or wrong."
In this life, we have to decide a lot of things, our education, job, friends, and a lot of the other important things. No one will make decisions for us, it's us that will decide them. Those decisions will bring a lot of influences and effects to our lives. They will decide what we will be. Our decisions will bring results, and it depends on us whether they are the good ones or the bad ones. Afterall, whether our decisions are correct or wrong, it's still better than doing nothing at all.

c. "I was so scared of going deeper but I had to do something."
This statement talks about making difficult decisions in our lives. This difficult will make a big change to our lives, thus it's difficult to decide. Well, we can avoid to make decision and just stay in the same place, but what's the point then? In this life, we have to make a big change, we have to move forward. Moving forward isn't easy, it's really difficult to do. Nevertheless, if we manage to do so, we will be a better and successful person. Just like me, I actually can stay in my country, Indonesia, to get my High School Education. But, in order to look for a big challenge, I came here. It's not easy to adapt with the circumstances here. It's really difficult, I have to face a lot of difficulties. However, I believe that my decision is correct and it will m becoming a better person.

d. "I couldn't blindly hope things would get better."
This statement describes that we can't expect all problems that we have in this life to be solved by themselves. If we don't do anything, nothing will happen. We have to work hard to solve every problem we have by ourselves. Never think your problem will be solved, if you don't even try to solve it. No one is gonna solve your problem except ourselves.

5. Why is climbing a mountain used as a metaphor to describe life?
Climbing a mountain used as a metaphor to describe life because in this life, we have a main goal that is the objective of our lives. But, reaching it is really difficult, we will face a lot of hindrances and obstacles. Climbing a mountain is just as hard as reaching that main goal. The top of the mountain that we want to reach represents our main goal while the obstacles that we have to face is the difficulties of climbing it. In order to be successful, we should get a lot of complete equipments. They represent our preparations. Whether we will be able to reach the top or not depends on our efforts. Climbing this mountains will take a really long time, it can be 30 years, 40 years, or perhaps until 70 years. The time that it takes, once again, depends on our efforts and motivation. Because, it will take a long time, just ensure that we don't lose our motivation. If we do, we will possibly fall down. Once, we fall down it's difficult for us to reach the top again.

6. Even the best laid educational or career plans can come to a disastrous end. What do you have to do to ensure your career plans don't die on the mountain of life?

Most people fail their career because they are not motivated and also careless. They are not motivated because they are bored with their lives and they feel that reaching their goals is not possible. In order to reach our goals, we have to work hard and keep our motivation. Motivation and efforts are the key of success. Even Edison said that the major key of success is our efforts, while being talented isn't the key of success. Also, while making a difficult decision, try to discuss it with your friends or families. We can't do that by ourselves.