Rock Climbing

By Kuan Lee

Tiger parents can be gruelling. Their children live a strict formulaic lifestyle that is not considered normal by any standards. The end goal of a tiger parent is for their child to get into the best college possible, as well as finding the best job possible. That is why it is so surprising that Jimmy Chin lives the perilous life that he lives. Jimmy Chin is one of the most elite mountaineers/skiers in the world. Chin is the first American to ski down Mount Everest (the highest mountain in the world), he and two other mountaineers completed the first ever ascent on the Shark Fin in Meru Peak, Chin is also the first to ascent and ski descent Tai Yang Peak in China. Currently, Chin is one of the greatest athletes in the world. Chin’s lifestyle and antics would scare the life out of any parent. The fact that Chin’s parents are Tiger parents is a cruel act of irony. Chin’s parents forced Chin to go to boarding school when he was a teenager. While in boarding school, Jimmy was an outstanding student with hopes of getting into top Ivies. After getting kicked out of his boarding school for having girls in his room, Jimmy’s chances of getting into Ivies became nonexistent. Instead, he went to the prestigious Carleton College in Canada. After graduating from Carleton, Jimmy convinced his parents he’s taking a year off law school to go live in his car while climbing. As expected, Jimmy never went back to law school. Instead, he spent the next two decades climbing in the most dangerous places in the world.

Along with being a world class mountaineer/skier, Chin is also an award-winning photographer and cinematographer. He started photography because he needed a source of income. Chin’s pictures have been featured in National Geographic, Men’s Journal, and even Time Magazine. Chin started cinematography because he wanted to document his treacherous climb up the Sharks Fin. From his documentation, Chin was able to make the award winning film, Meru. Chin’s accolades seem never-ending— his most recent being an Academy Award. With this accolade, Chin joins only a handful of Asian directors to win an Academy Award for best documentary. Chin was able to complete the feat with his film, Free Solo.

Jimmy Chin pushes the boundaries in whatever profession he deems worthy. His parents instilled in him a work ethic very few people have, even if it wasn’t the profession they had hoped for. Chin is an idol to the younger generation, whom feel as though they are conformed by their parents. Jimmy Chin is a living example of being successful, while doing what you love doing.