In honor of explorers on earth and in space I wanted to tell you the story of Henry Worsley, an explorer who started his trek at one side of the Antarctic and ended just 30 miles short of his goal. Henry Worsley is on the left in this picture taken of his team as they were training for his trek across Antarctica. “My journey is at an end,” Mr. Worsley said. “I have run out of time, physical endurance and a simple sheer inability to slide one ski in front of the other to travel the distance required to reach my goal.” Mr. Worsley’s disappointment was sharp and his sense of failure more intense because of how close he had come to success. Attempting to be the first person to cross Antarctica on foot, unassisted and unsupported, he crossed more than 900 miles and was forced, by exhaustion and ill health, to call for help 30 miles from his journey’s intended end. Rescued and flown to a hospital in Punta Arenas, in the Patagonia region of southern Chile, he was given a diagnosis of peritonitis, and he died on Sunday. He was 55. (Peritonitis is a bacterial infection of his abdominal muscles. The bacteria traveled to his major organs and because of his weakened physical state, they shut down and doctors were not able to help Henry.) Many are saddened because of his death, but his life was so full of questions, seeking answers, having the tenacity to go after his dreams. Many are inspired by his iron-will. After walking 913 miles he had to call for help on January 22 and by Monday, January 25, 2016 he had passed. There are more than 20 astronauts from all over the world that have been killed while on their missions as they explore the farthest reaches of space.
We need to remember this spirit of seeking and dreaming. Men and women have had these desires to find new places, see all they can see and share it with the world. From the earliest explorers; Christopher Columbus, Magellan and all the others up to this day, I am grateful for your accomplishments and all you have done to help me understand my place in the world.
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |