When I started walking up the hill I didn’t doubt that I could do it. But then, after a few minutes, my legs started hurting. We were climbing a mountain in Arthurs Pass Ski Area. It was at least a two or three-hour climb.

It was rocky, exhausting and hard. My face was burning like it was on fire. I felt sorry for my parents because they needed to take turns carrying my baby sister. Halfway there my dad suggested we go back because it was spitting and our tyre might have been flat because it was damaged when we had to go get a park. 

My mum disagreed. She said, “We already climbed this high, are you really gonna waste our effort?” So we kept climbing.

We were so high above the clouds, I could see mountains— brown and pastel brown. It felt like I was flying. I won’t say it was worth it but the view was amazing.

I know I was proud of myself and my family and I know that my mum was also proud that she did it.