I had always been afraid of roller coasters, so I never really went on them when I was at theme parks. This was why I didn’t really enjoy them so much as other people. Although I’m still hesitant about them, I am much more open about them now.
It started out two years ago. I was at Great America with friends, the usual going to theme parks and just wandering around playing and eating. My friends went to go on Top Gun, the biggest and fastest ride they have there. The first time they went on I just said I didn’t feel like going on. I just waited in the arcade, watching a few stupid kids trying to win a psp by playing one of those stopping games. I watched them use about ten dollars until I got bored. About twenty minutes later they came back and said they were going again. I wasn’t exactly happy. They asked if I was going to go but I casually told them how I didn’t really like them. They dragged me in line with peer pressure. I didn’t just want to look bad and say, “No I’m scared of rollercoasters”. As I was in line all I did was think of some way to get out of it. Sadly the line was moving pretty quickly. Looking at the screaming people going down the first drop just made it worse. The words of my friends didn’t seem to help me. Once we were around the front I started to get really nervous. I wanted to get out of line really bad. I started protesting a little but it was too late. They grabbed me into the seat and I figured since I was already here I might as well just hope for the best. As we slowly climbed up I got that old feeling again of being frightened or nervous. That slow weird tingly feeling in your back. As I looked down the drop I felt my body sweating, and then it happened. “Whoosh”, followed by a wave or screams. Instantly I felt my heart go to the back of my chest, and I just tightly closed my eyes, hoping for it to end. As I slowly opened them I realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. The drop was still scary but once it started the rest was fine. This boosted my confidence now when I’m considering going on a rollercoaster, this being the first real one not counting small mini coasters.
Now even when I go on rollercoasters or any ride with a steep drop, I still get that weird feeling in my back and a little nervous, but I already know there not that bad. If given the choice I probably would not go on one, not really finding them exciting but I definitely can if I want to.