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In the summer of 1996, I faced one the most demanding challenges I had ever seen before. This challenge was completely voluntary; I even paid to take it. I emerged awakened to a higher sense of thinking and feeling. The challenge was a 200-kilometer bike trek from Erlangen to Regensburg along the Maine-Danube Canal, with more than 50 select youth from across southern Germany. The limits of my physical endurance, and my will to continue were tried. The theme for the week was, appropriately, "Endure to the End!"

The week did not start out as ominous as it sounds. I was originally told we would average 30 kilometers for four days. If you can imagine only expecting to travel 30 kilometers but actually going 60 kilometers, then you can begin to imagine how I felt, with more than 50 of my friends. At the end of the first day, I was completely exhausted. I had to stop several times before the end, just to give my burning legs a rest and my searing throat relief. I kicked myself when I realized I had missed the turn to our campsite and had to backtrack. When I finally reached the end, I threw down my bike, half stumbled, half ran to a cooler of Kool-Aid, sat down and drank two full cups of Kool-Aid. Then I sat there for a good five minutes, simply unable to convince my legs of getting up, putting away my bike, and setting up camp. Never before had I been reduced to such humility. I was completely wasted and thought to myself that I could not go on. I was ready to give up.

I do not know whether it was intentional or by simple mistake that we traveled farther than I had expected. By the end of the week, it did not matter. I did some soul-searching and with help from my two best friends, I made the week one of the most positive experiences in my life. We biked just as far on two of the other days, but it did not seem like it. By the fourth and last day of biking, 35 kilometers was a walk in the park. I was actually sad that the week had to end. It is one of those experiences that I think of to remind of a good time in life. It has never failed to uplift my spirit and bring out boisterous laughter. There are many more little stories from that branch off this experience, too many to mention here. I think the most valuable insight I learned about myself was the theme of the week, "Endure to the End". Prior to this week, I had an idea of what that meant, but I did not fully comprehend how hard the enduring was, how far away the end was, and how great and joyful the end is.

This week is symbolic of life. No one said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it. After a major trial, I was ready to give up. I was able to continue with the help of great friends and a desire to do better. I have never regretted my decision. I only amaze myself that I would even consider giving up. I learned the true meaning of "Endure to the End", and have used this moral ever since to overcome less and greater challenges as they arise. I know the "end" is still far away in my mind, but it can't be as far as I imagine sometimes. Just like this week, I do not know what the road ahead holds for me, but I know I will endure.