Meet the Team - Jamie White
You have probably been greeted by Jamie at reception, had a Boulder Fun session instructed by him or even just received a cheery smile from him around the centre. Jamie is an experienced climber, instructor and all round superstar. Climbing for more than fifteen years, he found himself hooked after a childhood friend invited him to tag along, and says that the mental and physical challenges climbing provides are unique. Jamie gave me a few minutes to share his thoughts on our favourite sport.
What does climbing mean to you?
Climbing and its community have been a vital refuge and source of personal transformation for me. Coming from incredibly difficult circumstances as a youth and enduring further difficulties in latter years, climbing has always given me an outlet and has become a lifelong partner and aid in learning important lessons about mental resilience.
What’s your favourite thing about instructing?
My favourite thing is having such an incredible opportunity to share this life skill with others. Being able to teach others mental resilience through such a wholesome and engaging sport really is a dream come true! Most especially the moment when someone achieves something they didn’t believe they had the ability to achieve before.
How is instructing kids different from instructing adults?
Kids are blank canvasses! At a younger age we seem to be more spongelike and have a yearning to absorb anything and everything. Seeing these young minds focus their energies in a wholesome and functional way is inspiring! However, this also inspires those older generations who admire and seek out that same sense of self achievement. As adults we may not be as supple and agile, but what we may find challenging in certain physical departments we make up for in determination, which in turn inspires the youth. A circle of inspiration if you like.
You’ve recently started teaching The Weekly Session. What are you most excited about?
Those ‘eureka!’ moments of self belief, when someone achieves what they previously thought impossible! It’s a true gift: being able to encourage one other with the aim of lifting one another up to realise our own strengths and value.
Where do you see Volume 1 Climbing in five years’ time?
At the forefront of the amazing network that is our climbing community, introducing and making others feel a part of our community, encouraging and supporting them to surpass the things they set out to achieve.