Better wear four pairs of underwear — just in case, was the last piece of advice I got on my way out of the apartment.

Janelle Stien, a senior in advertising picked me up bright and early this past Aug. 30. Joining us was Sarah Haigler, a junior in accounting and management information system. Haigler, a veteran jumper, told us, “I went last August and it was the absolute most awesome thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.”

The drive over to Boone gave me the chance to try and rationalize what I was about to do. My dad is a pilot and wasn’t too keen on the idea — “Why on earth would you jump out of a perfectly good airplane? It just doesn’t make any sense to me,” he said.

Maybe that’s why I wanted to do it — because it didn’t make any sense.

But for me, it was like getting my tattoo. I had talked about doing it for so long that it was about time I actually did something about it.

I had several worries about skydiving including: dying of a heart attack on the way down, having my eyeballs get sucked right out of their sockets and breaking a leg during the landing.

I felt safest going third. (I was too chicken to go first and too nervous to go last.)

We got our skydiving instruction from Hashem Hashemi-Toroghi. Hashemi Toroghi has trained over 7,000 people, (3,000 of which have been tandem), during his 21 years of experience.

Before jumping, we signed a document that warned us of the inherent risk of personal injury, property damage and/or death we would be taking in exchange for the thrill of tandem parachute jumping.

Three point five million people jump in America each year and 78percent of those are tandem jumps. Because tandem students wear a dual-parachute pack with their instructor, little training is required.

After watching a short video, Hashem gave us some brief instructions. All four of us took turns practicing our jump out of the Cessna 182.

The rest of our 15 minute training consisted primarily of keeping our arms, back and knees in a good arched position for the 40-second free fall.

It was just before noon when I went up for my jump. Hashem and I were joined in the small airplane by two other jumpers.

I was scared for about five seconds when I saw them jump out in front of me and saw how fast they were falling. We gained altitude and it was my turn.

Now I’m not sure if I actually jumped or if Hashem sort of pushed us out; no matter, we were outta there. For the first few seconds I had tunnel vision and with the wind rushing up my face at 120 miles per hour, I couldn’t believe what I had done.

A lot of people skydive for the “rush” of the free fall. But for me, I enjoyed the 10-20 miles per hour canopy ride more.

I felt queasy for just a few seconds when the reality of what I was doing hit me, but it soon passed. Hashem and I talked the whole way down; he pointed out the airport and highways; he let me pull the canopy toggles to make turns; he even flew us straight through a cloud!

Six or seven minutes later we made a very smooth and successful landing.

Yes, I actually jumped 9,000 feet out the sky. Why did I jump out of a perfectly good airplane? I jumped because the door was open.

The cost of a tandem jump is $150. If you are interested in the skydiving program I invite you to the ISU skydiving informational meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in room 104 Beyer Hall.

You can call Rob Meyer, the president of the club at 292-7074 with any questions.

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Kim Zangger is a senior in advertising from Mt. Vernon.