I sent this in to a contest for a cash scholarship on a student website. The prompt was "What's the greatest gift you have ever been given?" The sun was beating down and every step we took seemed to take us closer to the Sun and its flaming heat. My ballerina legs were beginning to fail me and I wondered how they could support me dancing for seven hours, but not hiking for three. I looked ahead along the trail and found my French hosts bounding up the mountain. They were agile and excited and quick. And seventy-three years old. I realized I was getting lapped by an elderly man with asthma and all I could do was laugh. (Until that became too tiring). I decided to instead focus on the beautiful scenery....and the picnic that we would have on the summit. After eating and taking pictures, I still felt unprepared for the long trek down. My hair was sweaty and clingy, and I started to regret not wearing makeup. I could even taste the grit of dirt on my teeth. The first sm