There it was. A ten-foot-long bed, three inches deep and filled with hot embers.

The nervous walkers stood in the “Circle of Commitment,” a zone in which they could engage their power move to focus their concentration. After a moment of meditation, they were off…

Stepping out onto the hot coals, the chaplain and professor led the way; shouts of excitement and exhilaration filling the air.
With music pumping, bongos beating and cheers of encouragement, one by one, the others triumphantly rose to the occasion by taking the exhilarating walk, leaving their fears to be consumed by the fire. Each one, safely making it to the other side, was greeted with jubilation and hugs of congratulations from everyone.

“I’m feeling more confident now,” bubbled Babin. “It doesn’t seem as scary as it was in the beginning.”

The evening marked the second trek across coals for Ryan Parrey ’01. This time was no less exciting. “A lot of good has come from my doing this in the past,” he said. “This time around, I was feeling personally limited. After six months studying abroad, my world suddenly felt smaller. This seminar really helped me change my perspective about things.”

Freelance photographer Tony Fiorini didn’t attend the “Fear Into Power” seminar to learn how to manage his emotions. He went because it was his job. Assigned by The Albright Reporter to record the excitement of firewalking, little did he know he would wind up taking his own walk across the bed of coals. “I certainly didn’t expect to participate,” he said. “I was standing in the background with my tripod watching everyone else walk when someone asked me if I’d like a turn. I kind of hoped they were talking to someone standing behind me. Before I knew it, my shoes were off, my pant legs were rolled up and I was ready to go!”

Adventuresome by nature, Fiorini quickly conferred with Kelsey for a “Fear Into Power” crash-course. He accepted the challenge with hardly a second thought, stepped up to the edge, took a deep breath and dashed across the embers to the other side. “It was exhilarating,” he said. “But when I finished I had to go back to work. I was so pumped, I don’t even remember taking the pictures.”

Babin credits the seminar for adding a new layer of confidence to her personality. “Looking back, I think I was more scared when we first went out to see the fire, but when it came time to walk, I was eager to do it. I really felt like I accomplished something.”

– Joanna Cosgrove is a freelance writer based in Media, Pa.