Imagine yourself in a kayak, the waves are rushing underneath you, paddling endlessly when suddenly, a cold shock of the Pacific hits. You are upside down, the depths of the ocean tugging you downward and a massive yellow kayak stuck above your head. You swim out, gasp for air, and immediately get to work. Grasping the keel, you pull the kayak upright before hoisting yourself out of the frigid water and back into your boat. It all happens within minutes, and while it sounds terrifying, it truly is amazing. Growing up, I was the little girl horrified of all things outdoors. I screamed whenever my feet touched the ocean, a ladybug landed on my skin, or I had to help in my parents’ garden among slugs and worms. The summer before my freshman year,  my parents suggested I take part in a trip to the Channel Islands. The first few days were spent kayaking, something vaguely familiar. When our trip leader asked for a volunteer to kayak with another teacher, I raised my hand. Just beyond shore, within the jetty, she looked at me and asked, “Are you ready?” My heart was pounding, but I could not turn back. Suddenly, we flipped. Learning to right an overturned kayak while remaining calm was daunting, but having one clear goal while submerged in the ocean was strangely exhilarating. That first plunge into the Pacific didn’t just teach me how to climb back into a kayak. It taught me that the greatest discoveries often begin when we are willing to dive into the unknown.