I keenly watched the diggers build the hole that would soon be holding up our fire for rope burn. I could not believe that after eight years of watching I was actually participating in Camp Starlight’s rope burn. An abundance of thoughts were running through my head. What would happen if I placed my hand wrong and knocked down the whole fire? What if I accidently got my team a penalty? All of these thoughts caused a knot to form in my stomach. I hear the whistle scream indicating that both teams can start lighting their fires. Immediately after that, both the blue and the white team started to cheer their teams on, and I had to focus on getting our fire lit. The pit coach tells my friend and I to get into the pit and start building the base of the fire. As I was grabbing the sticks I could see my hands shaking. When all of the sticks were aligned the way they were supposed to be, it was time for me to light the fire. As I ignited the match I felt something ignite in me. With mixed emotions still running through my head I started to feel a little bit more excited. A little fire started in-between the sticks and all of the white team was screaming my name to cheer me on. This was just the beginning of my stressful but fun night of rope burn. 

After the fire was going I had to get out of the pit to let other people add sticks and keep the fire going. After about three minutes I decided I wanted to go back into the pit. I looked at the fire and was hypnotized by its dark purple bottom and the bright orange flame hitting the first of three ropes. I had to prepare myself to go back in. I was terrified that I might mess something up with the big fire that we had. I am going in next I kept saying to myself after a different person went in, but I could not build up the courage to actually do it. Then the other teams first rope fell and my stomach dropped. Now my team was behind with three ropes to burn still and the other team only with two. This was it I thought to myself, I have to go in and help my team. “I want to go in next!” I screamed to my pit coach. She gave me a signal nod and told me that I was able to go. The girl that was in the fire was taking off the gloves and handed them to me. I gave her a nervous look and took them from her. I bent down on my knees and started grabbing sticks to add to the fire. I could feel the skin on my chest burning from the hot fire that was only a few feet from my body. I look down and see that my chest is as red as a lobster and I quickly bring my shirt up to my chin, trying to keep my concentration on the fire. All different emotions were running through my head. I was frightened that I might mess something up, but at the same time I was excited that I was participating in the legendary rope burn. Everything felt like it was going so fast almost if as if I felt the world spinning. When I got the hang of things, my fear started to go away and I felt less nervous about being in the pit. In the back I heard the white team chanting my name, which made me more confident and excited about what I was doing. My coach was telling me to keep going and that I was doing very well. At that moment I watched our first rope fall right in front of my eyes. When I saw our first rope fall it looked like it was in slow motion to me. I could not believe what just happened and that I was the one who got to be in the pit to see it fall. As I watched the rope fall right before my eyes I felt as if I could do anything. Everyone started to shout my name even louder and at that moment I felt infinite. During that instant I finally understood what all the older girls meant when they said to me that rope burn is one of the best moments of your life.