How one leap in the desert taught me where real growth begins.

During my student years, I went backpacking in Egypt with some friends. One of our adventures was a desert expedition, where a local guide took us deep into the sands. 

At some point, he stopped the jeep and dropped us off at the start of a narrow canyon. 

As we walked, the gap between the towering rock walls became so narrow that we couldn’t stay on the ground anymore. 

We had to balance with our feet on small ledges on either side.

 I was at the back of the group, and with my poor depth perception due to previous eye surgeries, my fear of heights quickly took over. 

The height, the distance, the risk – it all felt much worse than it really was.

My friends moved ahead, disappearing around corners, while I hesitated more with each step, my fear steadily building. 

Eventually, I called out for them but heard nothing at first, and the panic became overwhelming. 

When one friend finally came back, he stood calmly with both feet on the ground, laughing. 

I realized then that I was only about fifty centimetres off the ground, but it felt like an endless drop.

The lesson? 

The line between comfort and panic is different for everyone. 

This is just as true in our professional lives. 

What inspires one person might overwhelm another. 

In education, it’s crucial to understand someone’s “stretch zone” – the space where they can grow and learn without feeling forced into panic. 

When we push students or colleagues too far, they often shut down. But by guiding them step-by-step into that stretch zone, they can surpass their own expectations. 

Sometimes, all someone needs is for you to wait around the corner until they're ready to leap.

How do you keep students or co-workers in their stretch zone? What indicators do you look for, and what information helps you know when they’re on the edge of growth or overwhelm?