Holding on to the vertical rock by the tips of my fingers, the ground 100 feet below us, I looked up to see my best friend losing his grip and his body free-falling down towards me.Free rock climbing is the epitome of discipline and confidence. To climb to the top you need continuous practice, self-reliance, and a mind focused on the goal. You form a strategy based on your assessment of the challenge and an honest admission of your abilities. You follow that with consistent execution and sound judgment, because there are no second chances. I have come to realize that although my climb sometimes feels like a race, it is in fact only a competition with myself, challenging ever more arduous paths, climbing with others, extending a helping hand, so that together we can keep going higher.I had only a second to wrestle with the shock of seeing my friend falling down, consider my options, fight the rush of adrenaline under control, and then extend one arm to catch him mid-air. My fingers kept gripping the rock as we slammed against the side of the mountain. On that day I not only saved my best friend’s life, I learned that in the critical moment I can rise to the challenge and perform at my best.