4 Emotional Stages of Walking Ghana’s Canopy Walkway

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Ignacio Cruz

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4 Emotional Stages of Walking Ghana’s Canopy Walkway

One of the most things I anticipated the most about my trip to Ghana was my chance to cross through a canopy walkway.  This past week, our group took a trip to Kakum National Park located near Cape Coast and explored the magnificence of the Ghanaian rainforest.  The canopy walkway was my for the taking; however, a rush of emotions hit me the moment I took my first step on the walkway.  This blog details the primary four emotions I felt leading up to my first canopy walkway in Ghana.

Overly Confident

The canopy walkway is dubbed as one of the “must dos” in Ghana—don’t get me wrong it is a really beautiful sight niched away inside the Kakum rainforest.  Before I even stepped foot into the park, I felt pumped and energized to take on the rainforest and tread my way through the walkway.

Anticipation

When I got to the park, I was instructed to climb up a hill that led to the walkways.  Everything was covered with green and was breathing life.  My heart raced after every step I took the hill elevated.  Within 20 minutes of walking, the canopy walkways that were suspended 128 feet in the air were in sight.

OMG. REALLY?

The rainforest guides allowed five people to walk on the canopy walkways at a time.  My heart palpitated with fear and anxiety as I took my first step in the walkway.  The canopy wobbled left and right as I slowly walked toward a landing.  Walking through the seven series of canopies was such a frightening thing to do.  You are basically suspended over 100 feet in the air and standing on a wooden plank.  I literally thought I was going to fall off!

I did it.

Most people got the hang of walking through the walkways after crossing a couple; however, the entire walkway series was as frightening as the first for me.  I feared every step I took, but I made it through.  On my last walkway, I sped up toward the last landing to get on stable land.  My classmates were cheering me on as I made my way to the end—a ray of emotions flooded me at that moment.  I had realized that I had done something so out of my comfort zone and succeeded.  I took a risk, did a dare, and lived in the moment.

Ignacio Cruz

<i>*Texas Scholarship</i> Akwaaba! My name is Ignacio Cruz and I am a senior at the University of Texas at Austin! I am a proud Longhorn majoring in corporate communication. I am from the Rio Grande Valley in the deep south of Texas. This summer, I have been accepted to study abroad in Accra, Ghana on a four week service learning program. If you would have told me that I would be travelling to West Africa during my college career, I would have thought you were absolutely nuts! However, that once ludicrous thought will become my reality and I cannot contain my excitement! This summer I will put my communication skills to the test because I will be working with local art and crafts makers in Accra and teach them how to sell and market their own products online through the use of social media and eCommerce platforms. Needless to say, there will be a blast of hashtags, @ mentions, and retweets coming out of Ghana this summer! Last summer I had the chance to study abroad in Beijing, China and learned so much about myself—as a student, leader, and global citizen. I have learned to not stand back from taking risks… I have learned to look fear in the eyes… I have learned to defy expectations that have been set by others who do not realize your potential. Being able to step foot in Ghana will allow me to reinforce these beliefs in myself and hopefully set an example to every kid from “el barrio” who was in my shoes once. You have to be self-less, brave, and bold.