Oak Middle School students were offered some advice last week when 16-year-old Jordan Romero spoke to the students about setting lofty goals, and dreaming big.
He used his accomplishments to show what someone can accomplish when working to achieve high expectations.
Romero is the youngest person to ever climb each of the highest mountains of all seven continents. Romero reached the top of Mt. Everest at the age of 13 and completed his quest by climbing Mt. Vinson Massif of Antarctica at the age of 15.
“I just kept focused on it,” Romero said.
His quest began at the age of 10, when he climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimajaro, in Africa. At the age of 10, he also climbed Australia’s Mt. Kosciuszko and Europe’s Mt Elbus. At age 11, he reached the peaks of Mt. Aconcagua in South America and North America’s Mt. Mckinley in Alaska.
Aconcagua and McKinley are the second and third highest peaks in the world. At age 13, Romero tackled the Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea, to cover both of the highest peaks that are part of the Australian Continent.
After that, Romero climbed Everest with his father Paul and his stepmother Karen Lundgren. He said they spent 40 days around the base camp, climbing up and back down to acclimate to the altitude and then waited for the weather to clear. When they eventually did make the climb and reach the summit, Romero said they also became the first family to reach the top of the world together.
“Which was a super special moment,” Romero said.
At the age of 15, Romero finished the quest with a climb to the top of Mt Vinson Massif, in Antarctica. While only 16,050 feet, it is not high by comparison to Everest, but because they got lucky with great weather, Romero said it was his favorite of the eight mountains he climbed. The fact that they were able to get in some back-country skiing added to his enjoyment.
Romero and his family live in Big Bear, California, so skiing and climbing have been part of his life almost since he was born. But Romero also warns children that keeping physically fit and active are big parts of achieving any goal. He warns that they should avoid junk foods and sodas.
His presentation is called “Find Your Everest,” as he encourages young students to pursue their dreams, whatever they may be, and to go ahead and dream big.
“Your goal can be anything you want,” Romero told the Oak students. “Stay focused on your big goal that you have in life.”
Romero has made appearances on the Disney Channel and is the subject of a book, entitled, “The Boy who Conquered Everest.” There is also more information on him at jordanromero.com.
