Join us as we talk about risk with the Most Interesting Man in the World, Ricardo Torres.
FHS Spanish Teacher and first Latin American to summit Mount Everest and to complete the double version of the Seven Summits.
Join us as we talk about risk with the Most Interesting Man in the World, Ricardo Torres.
FHS Spanish Teacher and first Latin American to summit Mount Everest and to complete the double version of the Seven Summits.
Speaker 1 It's a typical touristy places. But, you know, Cabo is our most recent place. Speaker 2 Tony Harris Sorry. Want to get you. Unknown In a serious. I don't need much. Give me a. Speaker 1 Little shack on the side of a beach in Mexico. This is where I could eat tacos. And I would be so happy. Wow. Love, Mick. How often do you get to go back to Mexico? Speaker 2 Well, no, no, too often. But in the last years, I visit probably four or five times a year. Oh, wow. Speaker 4 Yes, that's good. Speaker 1 Have you thought about taking a group of students to Mexico? Speaker 2 Well, I have a great story to tell you about it. To take students to. Speaker 1 Oh, okay. Okay. Well, good. Well, are we rolling? Oh, we are. Okay. So welcome to Fiesta is the podcast with me, Dayna Irwin and Kelsey goals. Today we want to talk about risk, what that means to our guests and frankly, what risk looks like. And who better to talk to about that than our very own Mr. Ricardo Torres? Speaker 1 Let me introduce. Yes, we have to. Yes, let me say a couple of things about him really quickly. He's the first Latin American to summit Mount Everest and to complete the double version of the seven summits named the Sportsman of the Century. Also decorated as Sportsman of the Year by former President Carlos Salinas and Spanish teacher at Friendswood High School. Speaker 1 So welcome. We're so glad you're here. Speaker 2 I'm so glad to. Thanks for having me on. Convey to me. Oh, thank you. Speaker 1 So we've gotten so many we've heard so many wonderful things about your chicken soup story. So then I kept putting on the comments. Oh, just we will. Speaker 2 Be on. Speaker 1 Our podcast next. So we really get to ask you a lot of questions. So we've gotten some great feedback about just your life story. I mean, you are an incredible person. Speaker 4 And that's like a chicken soup story is limited to one page, so I'm just excited to hear even more about some of those experiences. You touched on in the article. It's seriously so fascinating. I mean, I said, I feel like I'm not doing enough with my life. Speaker 2 Very much. Speaker 1 So that I don't I don't want to get off track because I can get deep into those kind of rabbit holes. But, you know, maybe that is something that I want you to think about because reading your life story and my goodness, how many more years of life do you have? Who knows, right? Only God knows. But but I think that's almost a good thing that people around you think I have not accomplished a lot. Speaker 4 Well, just start to be so inspired and motivated by somebody. It's always a cool thing like. Speaker 2 He did it. Speaker 4 I can. Speaker 1 Matter of fact, Mr. Rau said that he thinks he's actually the most interesting man in the world. Speaker 4 And by that we mean this. Speaker 2 He is the life of parties. He has never attended. If he were to punch you in the face, he would have to fight off the strong urge to thank him and have a week dedicated to him. He is not the most interesting man in the world. Speaker 4 Yes, I know. I had to cut it off before the very end. We can't show what that commercial is selling, but yeah, it does apply to you. Speaker 2 Describe beautifully. No. Speaker 4 No. We really think that sharks have a week dedicated to you, and you punch me in my face. I would think, you. Speaker 2 Know, I think so. When we happen and. Speaker 1 I know people see, you had a quote in the chicken soup story that you loved. Speaker 4 Yes. So this really stood out to me. You wrote Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Everest. And my childhood hero once said that the hardest Everest to climb is our daily one. He was so right. I am facing a new Everest, teaching Spanish for the first time, trying to instill in these young lives the love and passion for a beautiful melodic language that could open the door of wonderful cultures and civilizations. Speaker 4 Oh, so beautifully written. Oh, my. Speaker 1 Goodness. Speaker 4 And what a powerful statement that that really you're facing a new Everest really every day. So I think we'd love to know, too, just about this new journey into teaching Spanish at the high school and just kind of what that means to you and how it's your Everest right now. Speaker 2 Okay. At this moment, Well, this is a true challenge because as Hillary said, and we're dead is the hardest one quite well, because every day is completely different. You have a routine. You combined your your lessons and everything. But every day will be very, very different. That's one of the reason for the not just for me, I think for all of teachers, but all teachers. Speaker 2 This is so, so hard. So difficult for me. Well, the first years the people say you are not going to get probably the first three months or six months right. Speaker 1 But so people told you they didn't think you would make the first when you first started teaching and you started off, Doria wanted me to make sure that everyone knew you started off teaching in our Quest program with special needs, correct? That's correct. So how many years did you do that for? Speaker 2 Years. Speaker 1 Four years. With our Quest program. And then you. So help me. This summer you became certified so you could teach Spanish? Speaker 2 Exactly. At this moment, I'm working in the ACP. That's an alternative. Speaker 1 OC. Speaker 2 Program. Certification program. Yes, yes, yes, yes. For a for teaching. But then I would like to try also special. I love a specialist psychologist. And then I feel I feel that I could feel I could feel the the the students, the people. Speaker 1 Who will and I could see. So, you know, I taught many years, sixth grade Spanish, some different subjects. Before that, I just said Spanish math. Speaker 2 I didn't I didn't know. I teach math number. Speaker 1 And thank goodness I didn't know how to teach Spanish, but. So talk to us about what that's been like. I mean, we're talking you're a month in, right? And I'm not dogging Spanish. I'm not saying anything bad about Spanish. I'm actually saying the opposite. We are teaching Spanish, in my opinion, could be one of the most difficult subjects to teach because kids have to have a foreign language. Speaker 1 They have to have two years of a foreign language, and a lot of kids don't want to be there. They don't like it. And I don't know if it's anyone's love. I mean, it is. It is it does come easily to some people, but like math or engineering or medical sciences, I could see where some kids like they feel like they're made for that. Speaker 2 Mm hmm. Speaker 4 And it's just new. It's a new subject and it's difficult. And they're really having to learn everything from the ground up, which I think is something different. Like the first time they've really been exposed to that since they were little bitty. Speaker 1 Right. Ever. They have to learn to read and write it, which is crazy to me. So I know we're not here to talk bad about that, but how is tell me, how is that going? What's your experience? How many students do you actually have? Speaker 2 160. Speaker 4 Oh, my goodness. Speaker 1 Like 160? Speaker 2 Yes. Speaker 1 Think about the grades. Everything that you have and you have to teach. You have to you know, classroom management is a big deal. Everybody staying quiet. I'm just my anxieties going up, just thinking about this. Speaker 2 You write, I think the language in Spanish language is so difficult. The grammar is difficult. Many people say, no, it's too easy. But the when we listen, they're around us. Here in Texas, people speak in Spanish. So you say you take probably it's okay, but it's not okay. If you want to to speak really good language, you have to study the grammar, the pregnancy. Speaker 2 Sean For example, at this moment I have groups, very, very group groups. The level two Spanish do and they are really good students and they at this moment should be had a good pronunciation. They don't they still with the simple and good emphasis. No you have you have two friends pronounce this way right. It is not easy. You're completely right. Speaker 2 This is so difficult. Speaker 1 It is such a difficult saying. I just want to encourage you to don't quit. I'm not saying you're going to quit. Speaker 2 Thank you. Speaker 1 I mean, you're not a quitter, right? And that's what. Speaker 2 These. Speaker 1 Headlines here. Speaker 4 I'm just curious to say, what made you want to go into Spanish? Like, what made you want to go teach Spanish at the high school? Speaker 2 I went with. Speaker 4 So what what made you want to transition from being in special ed to teaching Spanish? Speaker 2 Well, because I love my language. I know my language. My Spanish is 100% academic, is in the opportunity to use came and we have well, personally, I like to take the opportunities the same forever is the opportunity you scheme and. Okay, go for it. Mm hmm. Speaker 1 So has Ruiz just have you always been. I mean, I read your story, so at a very young age, you're interested in climbing mountains. It's been like in your mother found a club, right? I mean, this was amazing. She was, like a great mother, and she's like, Let's get them involved in this. So you've always been someone that is not afraid of trying new things. Speaker 1 Where does that come from? Speaker 2 Well, from not of Mexico. Also the same as, say, where we la from, where we live. And I escape when I was an escape many times to climb and to gun. They said, Please, I don't want this. If you want to do it, you just do it in the right way. Speaker 1 Gotcha. Speaker 2 I don't want to be too well. Why is he okay? And I did it. I did it. I start training with a professional mountaineering club, and then with my partners were the best climbers in Mexico. And I learned a lot from my teachers. And then way step by step, it's everything. Speaker 1 So it's just from a very young age. You've always had a desire to want to climb mountains. Speaker 2 My target all the time was very clear the high mountains and is very clear since I was a little kid. Well, my first love, I imagine, is is to see what's with a sleeping woman. Mm hmm. And the morning and the sunrise. When you had the silhouette of the woman, it was. I fell in love. I'd seen plenty. Speaker 2 Sure. She was my first love. Speaker 1 I loved when you said. I always remember that. If I can see far, it's because I'm standing on the shoulders of giants. That is one of the quotes to me that stood out so much. Because, you know, so many times we don't take the I guess, the opportunity in the we're not grateful for the opportunities that others have given us and how they've poured into our lives. Speaker 1 And because they've poured into our lives, we are where we are today. I just loved I loved the way that you said that. That's a beautiful picture of of being grateful and frankly, humility. You know, you're very humble man to be able to say, listen, it's not me. It's other people that have poured into me. Speaker 2 Mm hmm. The through for example, in Mexico, the first expeditions just to climb ever is started in the fifties. Right. And I got to know some of them and they gave me some knowledge. And then one by one, that the night I arrived, the right with the right people and the right time. I think so. Speaker 1 And as your mother, I guess, did she get to experience in one of your first climbs, Were you able to was that videoed? Was it not videoed? Was there pictures of all of that? You know, those very first climb. Speaker 2 Not the features I love to see just somebody was the Super eight and Super eight. Yeah, it is great. A lot of features. Yes. We have a lot. Speaker 1 And you always have guides. Speaker 2 All the time. Okay, time. Speaker 1 So guides are something that yes. Speaker 2 It was one of the real. Okay, you want to go you've got but always with the guide, right? All the time with somebody with you. That's okay. I'm agree. Speaker 1 Oh yeah. That's that's great. I didn't know. That's kind of one of the conversations Kelsey and I were having. Do you ever get to a point where I'm so good, I don't need a guide or there's always there's always guides. And I was. Speaker 2 Together all the time. Then the opportunity came later, years later, and the mountain traveled. So it was the the company number one in the war in basically California. She got here. The company called me the me to you and say, we would like to you to work with us organizing some expeditions in Mexico and South America. You say, Well, I'm a student at this moment. Speaker 2 I'm in there and in the college. And they say, see will have the opportunity to go to respond in three months. I was okay. I take it this is I want to do this. Okay. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 2 Then I finish my school, but well, I start climbing with many years. Your professional guide. Speaker 1 Oh, you were professional guide. Professional? Many years, were you? Speaker 2 Did you? 15 years. Oh, wow. Vermont and tribal sobek. Speaker 1 And when you say you're a professional guide, is that like. So how long are we talking that that it takes you to climb a summit? Speaker 2 Well, depends. For example, the Himalayas at that time, because now is completely different. Now is some kind of tourism to visit the place, specifically Everest. Four years ago, when Expedition took just for a nice it take you probably two or three years and just for climate three months four months depends part of the Himalayas. Now you can do it in a couple of weeks, in three weeks with the climate station because they now they said all the route, the Sherpas, they work. Speaker 2 And Dave is like he's like a highway right now. It's completely different. Speaker 1 I have seen pictures and we're talking Hunt right now. Right now we see aren't there like hundreds of people on the trail, right. And does it look completely different? Well, that's what you're saying. It looks completely different. And the experience is completely different from when you first started. Speaker 2 That's correct. I recommend you you can watch the every Everest movie that this about. There's some guided expedition. And this is two events. It's about Scott Fisher and Rahul and this expedition was in 1996. Do they 13 people pass away because by decision the route was stuck. They covered the storm inside. They couldn't back and many, many problems. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 1 Is oxygen always needed? Is that a thing that depending on which what you climb and where you go. Speaker 2 Well in case of Everest is highly recommend the summit day is a summit day because from the last camp to the summit is you need many hours too many hours to get to summit and that is this is a prove it. You have a brain. Brain the listen this is like micro blogging. My crew was a name. Well, in case of the other mountains, you can do it without or you can. Speaker 2 Okay. Just forever. This is highly recommended by human rights, immigration and the brain. Speaker 4 So how do you how far out do people need to start preparing for a hike like that? And what all goes into training for that kind of a hike? Speaker 2 Well, in my case, I trained three years. Well, now the people just got to go to have a good physical condition. And because every did you sit. But at that time you have to train a lot. I debate I split my training in cardio for example, and the general physical condition and also in the in a specific training gym is really good, but not big muscles, big, motionless, too heavy and need too much food also. Speaker 2 And and then you visit the mountains for example, in Peru. You can I would like something like very similar to Himalayas but not to write very technical claims this perfect song just for climbing there. Hmm. Speaker 1 So you mentioned a word that's very important to me. I need to know how if you climb for three months, what kind of food are we talking about, Mr. Torres? Like, how do you possibly pack enough food or are you talking? Is it more like it's not like meals today, it's more like bars or that syrupy stuff that you can kind of is that what you're talking about? Speaker 1 How you get your energy. Speaker 2 Is part of that? Yes, part of that. Well, the food is horrible. The first week that's okay is just confirmed. Speaker 1 Why I will not be. Speaker 2 Is pretty frizzy dry foot you can got it for every super now but yes first week That's okay The second one. Okay the third. Just say no wait. That's enough of that. Right. But this is the food we use upstairs. Speaker 1 That's the only way you can eat. Speaker 2 That's correct. Speaker 1 You're not packing like steaks and and potatoes are is. Speaker 2 Often at this moment. At this moment. And this. This is right now. Yes. They have everything on base camp. They have Internet, they have hotels. They have a five stars, VIP places. Right now. Okay. Speaker 4 So maybe maybe they're not okay. Speaker 1 Maybe there's something that I want. I need the flattest, melted. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 Sorry. Okay. I digress. One of the things, you know, we were talking about preparing for this podcast is you had shared with me, obviously, you know, you were so sad that Mr. Reed, Kevin Reed had passed, but that you had had a conversation about hiking together. Speaker 2 That's true. Yes. Well, we started talking about the hike together since probably 21 years, probably one two years ago. And he came to me as a kid, told me I love mountains, I love it here. And it was your next project. And I said, Well, first I have to fix my knee and I will like to go to Kilimanjaro, because when I climbed Kilimanjaro, I did a very, very difficult and very dangerous route. Speaker 2 My wife was very close to pass away, but I went back just for the standard route and just just just for fun on my pace and my time of pressures. Sometimes you got a lot of pressure and he asked me, Can I go with you? And he said, more than welcome. Of course, we are a group at this moment. Speaker 2 There are probably five or six people they want to go and we just back weeks ago to the school, we met together. So he asked me, he said the expedition? Yes. He said, You're strange. We have to train and I'm going to give you exactly the dates just to be there. I'm ready. He has me. Probably. I have to talk with my wife because she's a little worried. Speaker 2 No, don't worry about that. We are going to climb the the standard route, which is not dangerous. Difficult because you need endurance, but that's it. Don't worry. Speaker 1 Now, you said there were five or six people. Is that all from friends or high school or you're saying just that you know, of that would be going there? Speaker 2 Well, two people from Mexico, the two people from Texas and the other one from from Italy. Speaker 1 Oh, okay. So just a group of people that you knew that were interested in going. Speaker 2 Exactly. Speaker 1 Gotcha. So not everyone will climb a summit, but what advice would you give when preparing for a substantial challenge or taking a big risk Like like you're talking about what what advice would a people need to be able to do those sort of big things? Speaker 2 Well, the word risk we associate with something dangerous, something very bad they think will happen, but not necessarily a leaving is is not good for your health. Leaving is a risk. And you have to you have to take those risks. At least you have to to know what kind of risks risks are you taking. For example, if you you want to climb. Speaker 2 Okay, what risk do I go, well, are we going to to have their storm by the weather gear busses? What I need to reduce this, where they need the good equipment, I need a good physical condition, a good to be well on my mind, on my psychology and things like that. I think if you don't take risks, well, what y you're leaving here? Speaker 2 You don't take risk. Speaker 1 What what do you tell yourself? What goes on? What's your thought process when you're in a moment where not necessarily that you want to quit, but it's getting tough? What is your self-talk? You know, there are a lot of kids that being an ex teacher that I worked with, that I'm always interested in knowing what what people's self-talk is, because you do have those kids that quit quickly. Speaker 1 You have those kids that push through no matter what. And I think it's so much about what's going on inside of their head. So what's your self-talk like? Do you ever get to a point where you tell yourself, This is tough? Kind of walk us through what does that sound like in your head? Speaker 2 Well, normally, yes. I talked to myself very often. And we can talk here about, okay, physical programs, diet, food and too many things. But the most important thing is you set your mind on the right way. Does I know many people, 70, 80 years old, stronger than me is because their minds are really, really, really strong. And the first thing is, well, there is two scientists, Dr. Hackett and Dr. Wilkinson. Speaker 2 They spend probably 40 years just studying the psychology and the physiology, not just with the climbers, with the different Hartleys. And they see and they they got the conclusion at the time, you are already too quick. You say that's no mass, that's it, I'm done at that point because pressure, because stress, because too many elements, that moment you use your 20%, you have 80% in front of you. Speaker 2 Right. And I'm not talking here. Okay, Let's go and move 80%. No, if you if we move just 1%, a lot of doors will be opened in front of us. Speaker 4 You know, when you're talking about that. So I feel even embarrassed talking about doing a sprint triathlon, speaking to you can't compare. But I did one last summer and I just did noncompetitive. I was just wanting to do it and did not do the competitive for time. But it just baffles me because my group being noncompetitive was lost. Speaker 4 But the first part was the swim and it was in this lake and they said, okay, if you start to feel like you're drowning, like, well, start waving. And people around you like pay attention and wave if you see someone who needs help. But there are people there'd be people who got like 20 feet out and they start panicking, flailing around. Speaker 4 And I'm like, Oh my. Speaker 2 Gosh, if you literally stand up. Speaker 4 Your feet still probably touched the ground. But it was just like seeing the full on panic and it was right at the beginning and then they were done. And I'm like, it's just that it's that mentality of like they immediately got themselves worked up and then they couldn't they couldn't do it. Like physically they were able. But mentally. Speaker 2 That's it. Yes. Yes. Hey, congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Finish. I agree. I agree. I really I really respect the triathletes. Wow. Yeah, partly My heroes. Yes. Oh, my. Well, just a marathon. You're just going to be doing going to be a sports and you have to train for three is for The Apprentice four. Wow. Speaker 4 Yes, it was it was it was definitely a good couple of months preparing more than that, preparing to do the little triathlon. But I really enjoyed the swimming a lot. The bike I hated. But that's because I almost got hit by a car the second time I ever went out for a ride. And then the run was I was fine. Speaker 4 I was like, I just need to get through the bike ride. That was like the largest source of my anxiety. And then I was okay. But yes, like the swim, I guess just open water. It just it really did surprise me how many people just panic. Speaker 1 But it goes back to what you were talking about is, you know, a big part of that that would help that situation is preparing for. So it makes me wonder, did they go out into a lake? Some people might swim in their pool, but going it and getting in a lake. Speaker 2 Before you did. Speaker 4 Something extreme. Speaker 1 And so it's one of those things that could help what like you were talking about, it's important to be prepared. You can hike or put yourself in situations that you're not really prepared for. Speaker 4 Yeah, for sure, for sure. Speaker 1 But Kelsey's always good at that. Every year she sets up basically ten things she wants to accomplish in a year, which I think is another great thing that not a lot of people maybe do. Or if you're looking for something that let's say you're listening to this podcast and you decided I want to take more risks, I want to do more in my life, it's one of those things that, you know, might help you. Speaker 1 You set up these are the things I want to accomplish this year because one of the things that I learned after kind of Kelsey showed me the process is you can write something down and then you realize, Wow, I can't really do that until I do these other things. So I have to to learn how to do this and I have to back up a little bit and I have to do this, this, this, and this that will prepare me to do that sort of thing. Speaker 4 Yeah. And it's just like good to to push you out of your comfort zone and like, I do things that are like they can be super simple, like go to a poetry slam because I'd never been to a poetry slam and I love poetry. So like, it can be something as small as that too. Taking a trip in like, one of my favorites was going to the Wisconsin Cheese Festival because I love cheese. Speaker 2 Because a lot of cheese. Speaker 1 You need to get some cheese on the Swiss mountains for these hikers. Speaker 2 Yes, I. Right. Speaker 4 And like the triathlon, that was something on a list. One year is just ways to push myself every year and accomplish things that like and a big part of for me at least that I post my list at the very beginning of the year. And I say each time I complete something, I have to post a picture having completed it. Speaker 4 So it's that accountability for me to actually why not? Yes. Speaker 2 This is still the triathlon from Galveston. So these are international triathlon organized by Galveston every year. But after COVID, I don't know if these is still working. Speaker 4 I don't know. I did one. It was in Austin. So which that was another thing I couldn't really prepare for was the hills for the bike ride. So there was like a medical ATV. Speaker 2 Running. Speaker 4 Down the road. I'm like, Oh my, I want to just stay nearby. Speaker 2 Just stay right around me. Yeah, it was go for you. Speaker 1 But it is a good you know, I think a lot of people might not try these sort of things because they're afraid they may fail. Or so then it's easier just to say, Oh, well, I'm not even going to try. But, you know, that's the beautiful thing about just putting yourself out there and trying to you. Speaker 4 You find you're capable of so much more than you ever thought. Like I say this a lot. And one of the lessons I learned through doing some of the things I've done is most of the limits that we have are the ones we place on ourselves. So just try. Just try. I can't even tell you literally have fallen on my face attempting things many times, actually fallen on my face and. Speaker 2 I get back. Speaker 4 Up and you just. Speaker 2 Keep. Speaker 4 Doing it. It's like, okay, you see that you weren't really that hurt. You weren't really that damaged. You're just try. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 Which is what you're talking about. Yeah, right. Just continuing and keep going. Keep moving forward. So what motivates Ricardo Torres? Speaker 2 Well, definitely my heart as that's my biggest, most motivational motivator. And there could be something around you for feedbacks or support you and things like that. But the point internal, the internal flier should become inside of you. Does that it that's the number one you know the number two. Well the information you got you know at the moment I feel just that I have more to do now. Speaker 4 Mm hmm. One thing I love that you wrote about at the very end, because, I mean, I can't even imagine seeing the places that you've seen. But I love I love to go hike much more simply. But the reason I love it so much is I feel so close to God and so beautifully small. And so I really related to that part. Speaker 4 But it really is there something about it's just so humbling to be in the middle of this greatness, in this and in God's creation, and it's just you, like you're just that's still like a speck, but it's a really beautiful thing. Speaker 2 Absolutely. Very different. But any sports, any sport you have, Claire, you have a stadium, you have the wave here. You you're you're right. You're completely alone. You go out and tour. Yeah. Speaker 1 And I can imagine how small, like you said, how small. We know we're important. We know where we come, you know from. But how small we are on the planet, I would think would create this sense of humility and really almost in some ironic, strange way, open your heart to just be a better person. Oh, yeah, Yeah. Speaker 2 You two is probably one of the most important things. How. How, how small we are. We didn't into the marble is not here, but how big we can be, how to be, how you can measure the human being. How okay, how many times I felt and how many times I'd say call up again. How many Sometimes many people say, okay, I fell and that's it. Speaker 2 And other people say, No. I felt I learned a lot. Go away. Mm That's true. Speaker 4 I firmly believe if you're still here, you, you still have a purpose. And sometimes even in death, like our, our death serves a purpose for God. And so I believe that, like, you stumble, you can have failures. That's part of the human experience, but you just have to keep going and allow God to use all experiences that you've had, all of the failures, all of the good things for his good. Speaker 1 You know, that's I actually just quoted I just put a quote on my Instagram last night that said, failure is not the opposite of success is part of it. And I think if our kids, students, if people would believe that because it's one thing to say it and it's another thing when you believe it, you do your, oh, you're okay with your failures, Like you're okay with falling, you're okay with you're okay with it. Speaker 1 You know, so many times kids today, they see the perfect side of people on social media and it's even more difficult to you know, no one's really broadcasting their failures. But if you truly can really believe that failure is a part of life and it's a part of your successes, you're going to be so much better off. Speaker 2 That's true. And it's not just part of it is necessary, necessary and necessary to fail. We need to fail. Speaker 1 MM Do you get the opportunity to have these discussions with your students in Spanish class? Speaker 2 Not at this moment yet, but the first week, yes, we talk about the mountains. I did some analogies between mountains and life and I put some exercise with them. Okay. Thank you. You son and son mountains. And I didn't split in groups nicely. Well, now everyone is. You are going to climb. You are going to climb your personal mountain. Speaker 2 You tell me what the target and what you need. And some of them. Okay. At this moment, my Everest. This is my high school and I need to study too much. I need to be a good student later. That is a yes. You got it. Is there? Mm hmm. Mm mm. Speaker 1 Oh, that's so good. Speaker 4 I know. Speaker 1 I just want to encourage you to continue to. Oh, you're going to come across students that are so frustrating for me as an assistant principal. I did not. It was those students that I didn't feel like I was reaching, that I wondered, why is it. Why are you at school? Like you don't do any of your homework, You're absent a lot of the time. Speaker 1 I know they have their own battles that they're facing, but those are the most frustrating students that you just feel like they're wasting their life. They're wasting the time that they have, and you have so much to offer those kids. So I just want to encourage you to keep talking to them about, you know, because you're going to eat with 160 students. Speaker 1 There's no doubt in my mind. You have kids that want to quit. You have kids that no one speaking positive things in to them. There's no you could be the first person that they've ever been around that has been successful or has pushed themselves in some sort of way, you know, So you have so much to offer the high school kids. Speaker 1 And I know it's going to get tough, but just know that you have so much to offer those kids. Speaker 2 I will do the best for me. Speaker 1 That's right. And no doubt in my mind, there's no doubt in my mind that you will. And so that. Can you give us some words to live by, like teach us a little bit of Spanish? Speaker 4 Yeah, we want to learn a little Spanish from you. So if you can give us some inspirational things that we can carry with us out of this room. Speaker 1 Is there a phrase that we can learn in Spanish that that we can use? Speaker 2 Yes. Well, we can say it. For example, Vamos. Let's go by more. Speaker 1 Somos. Speaker 4 Vamos. Speaker 2 Adelante. Speaker 4 Adelante. Speaker 2 Siempre. Speaker 4 Siempre. Okay, we go. Oh, something Siempre is always. Is that right? Okay, what was the second word? Speaker 2 Go ahead. By most of the land in front. Let's go in front. Always. Speaker 4 Okay, so let's put it together by Ms.. Speaker 2 Adelante. Speaker 4 Simply Pamela's. Speaker 1 Adelante. Speaker 4 Bama's adelante siempre. Speaker 1 Okay, That means. Speaker 2 Let's go ahead in front. Always. Let's go ahead. Speaker 4 I think I know what the caption is going to be for this podcast on the. Speaker 2 Yes, there is. There is a reason to be. There's no reason to be in the back. I'm going front. Okay. Go on from love it. Speaker 1 You know how many t shirts we can get out of this man? Speaker 2 I t I. Speaker 1 Can see so many great t shirts with his. Speaker 2 Buddies. Speaker 4 Atalanta Siempre is all right. Speaker 2 That's great. Yeah. Oh, I love it. I love it. Yeah. Speaker 4 I really want to ask a question really quick because I'm like, okay, you touched on this in your story and it's fascinating. I would love to hear more of the back story. You said your heart stopped for over a minute. It stopped beating. Speaker 2 Yes, that's correct. Yes. Well, we scuba dive in the lake, uncovered lake and, the not too cheerless out of Libya. And at that time, we use some military equipment at some rebreathers. And something happened because we were scuba diving into the ice in the lake dies, probably some piece of life regulator or something just came down and they couldn't breathe. Speaker 2 They was too much weight on me. And at that time I just lost my knowledge. Yes. And my partner just pulled me out. And you you. Speaker 1 Respect me and you resuscitate. Yeah. Speaker 2 Wow. I said, What happened? And you say, Well, you passed away. Really? Yeah. I was probably one minute early. I mean, this. Really? Yes. You don't remember? I don't remember. Speaker 1 So you don't remember? Do you remember getting light headed and thinking you're like. Speaker 2 You're like, okay, close my eyes. Like. Like a dream. You're the. That's it. When I recover, I was swept into my sleeping bag. It's already 2 hours later. Okay, Carol Equipment. Let's go here. Oh, really? And back to the city. Yeah. Wow. Speaker 4 You're in Venice. Do you feel like that impacted you in a in a strong way? Speaker 2 Yes. Yes. We carry everything. We carry the diving equipment, the climbing equipment and the food. A lot of things. Mm hmm. Yes. Mm hmm. Speaker 1 Is there an adventure that, like, you refused to do? Like, you're like, Oh, that's too dangerous? I mean, like, is there something that you're not interested in doing or you're pretty open to most things? Speaker 2 Well, particularly that expedition we plan in, probably for 20 years. Probably for 20 years. But something happened sometimes. My friend, he was living in Italy, and and I said, okay, I'm ready to go. And he said, No, I can't because I'm living here and my job and you're okay, thank the boss. And he said, okay, I'm ready. And I told him, No, you're not ready because you just and get bored and you are your mind is not really fast. Speaker 1 It's not in right in the place. Right. Speaker 2 And there's no and every year was something different until in 2005, you know this go and we did it. Speaker 1 It's amazing. That's awesome. Okay. So I basically we like to end the podcast with like some random questions. So let me ask you the first one. If you couldn't do what you do, what would you do. Speaker 2 With probably well, I'm a world traveler. I love to travel, but it's in some way I love for simple to get some service with, especially people, people with some mental disorders, things like that. Probably I if I get a lot of money for simply just a clinic, but at this moment, yes, probably travel, travel, travel. Speaker 1 Is there one place in mind that you're really wanting to go right now in Pakistan? Speaker 2 I will be back to Pakistan. But the way part of the world is Islamabad, I think that is the key. And I'm not interested in just the wild part. Speaker 1 If you could tell your 14 year old self something in your 14 year old self would actually listen. Right? Because that's part of it. Right. What would you say to him? Speaker 2 Wow, that's that's a good question. I said to exactly be exactly yourself. The youth don't change everything. Probably you should commit the same mistake is used to it. Otherwise I wouldn't be here. Yeah. Yes, but do exactly the same. Speaker 1 I don't know that everybody could say that. So that's. Speaker 4 Yeah, that's awesome. Speaker 1 Yeah. So who's your hero? Speaker 2 My hero is Edmund Hillary, the first man who counts Mount Everest. He is my. My model, my hero, my. Well, I think part of my life are the things I learn from him is I try to put it in the right way. Speaker 1 Last question. One thing I know for sure is can you so complete that sentence for me. One thing I know for sure is love. Love is. There anything else? I feel like it's like so short. Is there anything else that you want to say or any advice you want to give or a story you want to tell or. Speaker 2 Yes, well, talking about Hillary, you know, when he well, he became the first man with dancing. And after the achievement, they have a lot of interviews with the press, the world press. And as some journalists ask him, hey, so important, the the tracks you leave from the summit. And he'd say, well, some way for me that's okay. But that those tracks and the summit will be a race very quick. Speaker 2 The first win, the first star. But the two track is a track. You can get to the others. That's the. Mm hmm. And this moment is a That's true. He's made history. Mm hmm. I think, for example, you had me part of my motivation, and I told you I took from me, I think was. Are like a medicine. Speaker 2 Could be a medicine. It could be a weapon. Mm hmm. Mm. Huh. Speaker 1 What? What could be a medicine or what could be a weapon? What's the word? What is it? Speaker 2 The words You don't know The words. Speaker 1 Your words. Speaker 2 The words. The idea. Speaker 1 Yes, yes. Speaker 2 Yes. Anything you took. And when I took me, I tried to use this as a medicine. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. Absolutely. You have so many great things to share and so many great things to talk about. And you've lived such such an interesting life, and we appreciate you really just being here today and kind of talking talking with us. Kelsey and I at some point are going to pop into your class, get some pictures, and and your kids are so lucky to have you as a as a teacher. Speaker 2 Thank you so much. Thank you. You almost. Speaker 4 Out of this this. Speaker 2 It's nice, lady. Speaker 1 Thank.