This summer, my family took a road trip to the Smoky Mountains. At one point on our drive, we pulled into a parking lot with a trail that led to the highest point in the mountains. We stepped out of the car and looked across the vast landscape stretching before us. The trees reached toward the sky that was painted in shades of blue and purple. It was one of the most beautiful places I have traveled to. 

Then we started our hike. Wildflowers were growing along the edge of the trail and berries dotted the bushes surrounding them. With every step we took up the mountain, the view behind seemed to grow smaller, but we kept climbing. Eventually, we reached the top of Clingmans Dome, 6,643 feet above sea level and the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains. As I looked out from the top of the mountain, I saw absolutely nothing. 

After climbing all that way, the view we had been working toward was hidden by the fog and “smoke” of the mountain range. At first, it was disappointing to make it to the highest point and not see anything. Eventually, we began our trek back down the mountain, and the haze slowly lifted. The trees and mountains appeared again. With every step we took, the world around us began to come back to life. The view had never disappeared; we just couldn’t see it. 

Standing there, I realized how often I catch myself waiting for the biggest moment, the highest point on the mountain. Our focus can get lost in titles, accomplishments and the desire to stand on the summit. When we focus so much on reaching the top, it becomes easy to overlook the moments along the way. The wildflowers I saw along the trail were just as beautiful as the view from the top. Missouri FFA, don’t wait until you reach the summit to realize how beautiful the journey was. Some of the moments worth remembering most are the ones that we walk right past.