STORIES OF IMPACT | Emanoela C.
High School Junior Climbs Higher with Young Women Who Crush
Emanoela is a New York City high school junior who is wise beyond her years. She is poised, articulate, and confident. She scales cliffs the heights of city buildings in the Shawangunk Mountains north of New York City and mentors new climbers. And it’s all because of Young Women Who Crush, a rock climbing and leadership program for New York City high school women and gender expansive youth that is part of the CatRock Ventures family of programs.
Young Women Who Crush excels at creating a warm and welcoming community that fosters the trust, confidence, and communication needed for rock climbing. After all, climbing outside for the first time can be scary. You need to have faith in yourself and be able to build a bond with your climbing partner. “A person’s life is in your hands,” says Emanoela. “You need that strong support system.”
Not only has Emanoela learned to climb staggering heights, she has developed the personal confidence to help other climbers. Emanoela recalls a climbing trip in upstate New York. “Climbing is both physical and mental,” she explains. “We had one girl who didn’t realize how scared of heights she was. Our motivational talk wasn’t working so I got on the ropes with her. I was able to help her understand how important it was to stay in the moment and slow her breathing. Eventually, she calmed down and was able to resume her climb. I felt like such a mentor at that moment.”
“When you’re with other females, the vibe and energy are so uplifting. We can talk about anything and we respect each other completely.”
Self-advocacy is another important skill that Emanoela now possesses thanks to rock climbing. “When you’re outdoors, you need to be mindful of your surroundings, understand how to be safe, and prioritize your safety,” says Emanoela. “You need to speak up for yourself.” Learning to voice her needs through rock climbing has enabled Emaneola to become more vocal in groups and develop leadership qualities.
Young Women Who Crushes fosters an environment that allows the mentees to become both powerful rock climbers and leaders who make an impact on the world around them. Emanoela, for instance, takes active roles in fundraising and managing the organization’s Instagram account. And she is currently applying for an internship on a political campaign.
Learning to climb with a group of women is extraordinarily empowering and liberating for the teens in the Young Women Who Crush community. “When you’re with other females, the vibe and energy are so uplifting,” Emanoela stresses. “We can talk about anything and we respect each other completely.”
Young Women Who Crush has had a profound effect on Emanolea’s life. “In three years, I have learned so much. After a stressful day at school, I’ll come to The Cliffs indoor climbing gym to train and my day will be transformed with the positive vibes here. Young Women Who Crush is my support system outside of family and school.”