I’ve always been terrified of roller coasters. The thought of flying through loops, feeling weightless at the top of a drop, and plummeting back to earth has always been enough to make my stomach tie itself into knots. So when my friends invited me to Dorney Park, I had a plan: stick to the gentle rides. After starting off with the swings, the bumper cars, and the carousel, my friends were becoming bored. They began begging me to ride something with a little thrill. I refused for a while, but by the end of the night, I ended up riding Thunderhawk 16 times. 

It started innocently enough. My friends and I were just trying to have a good time, and I figured I could hang back and avoid the big coasters. But then we hit Thunderhawk, the classic wooden coaster at Dorney. It’s not the most terrifying ride in the park, but to me, every coaster seemed like an insurmountable mountain to climb. 

The first drop on Thunderhawk was enough to make my stomach flip, and I told my friends that I was fine just watching them. But, of course, they wouldn’t let me off the hook. “You’ll be fine,” they insisted, pushing me into the line. I protested, I begged my friends to ride something more tame, but nothing worked. Finally, I gave in. The moment I strapped myself into the seat, I could feel my anxiety rise. 

The coaster clattered to the top, and as we soared into that first drop, I was terrified. The wind slammed into me, and my body lifted off the seat — I couldn’t even hear myself scream over my friends’ laughter. However, I realized something strange: I was alive, and it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. In fact, I needed to do it again. By the 16th ride, I was practically laughing at the twists and turns, my fear melting away. It felt less like a ride and more like a challenge, like I was proving something to myself. Steel Force, the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the park, loomed ahead. With a drop so steep it felt like you were plummeting straight down into oblivion. I’d been avoiding it like the plague. And even with three of my closest friends cheering me on, I couldn’t bring myself to ride it. 

Weeks later I returned to Dorney Park, this time with high hopes. I went in with a drive to conquer the Steel Force. I had faced Thunderhawk, so why not Steel Force? Standing in line, I could feel the adrenaline building, my palms already sweating. As the car finally arrived in the station my adrenaline spiked. Once I finally sat down I realized there was no way of avoiding this. As the rigid car climbed the lift, my fear grew and grew. Now, I was at the top and my fear reached an all-time high.

 I was at the drop. It was even more intense than I had imagined, but something inside me had changed. I wasn’t screaming in fear — I was laughing, shouting with excitement as we flew down, whipped around, and shot up again. Sitting side by side with my closest friends on Steel Force was something I waited ages for. By the time we reached the end, I felt invincible. Dorney Park had turned my fear into something exhilarating, and I had come out the other side stronger, braver, and ready for whatever challenge came next. 

For me, this wasn’t just a roller coaster ride; it was an experience that left a lasting impact. It made me realize that no one is bound to a single path. I had always assumed I wouldn’t enjoy the same thrills my friends did, but this experience showed me that I was capable of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing some- thing new. In the end, I proved not only to them but also to myself that I could face it and enjoy it.