What universal theme is dealt with in this passage?
a) recovering from childhood abuse
b) overcoming one's fears and adversities
c) losing one's innocence at an early age
d) struggling to cope with difficult family members

passage:

jeannette

kenneth

dad

mom

(setting: the washington family’s kitchen)

jeannette: i’ve perused this bevy of travel pamphlets and i have no inkling of where i want to go on vacation. i thought about attending a performance at the city’s amphitheater; however, the city will be in bedlam with the performance and the sporting event occurring simultaneously.

mom: i didn’t find a worthwhile destination either.

kenneth: i’ve concluded that we should embark on an exhilarating and exciting trip this year—something we’ve never done before

mom: i don’t want to dismiss your idea, kenneth, but where can find such an awe-inspiring experience?

kenneth: i thought we could hike up mount whitney—it’s the highest peak in california. because it’s located on the border of inyo and tulare counties, it’s also relatively close to home. since we’re all strong athletes, i think that making the ascent is feasible.

jeannette: (to kenneth) that sounds like an awesome and memorable trip; however, there’s one problem with your plan—i suffer from acrophobia.

kenneth: (with a look of befuddlement) acro- what?

mom: acrophobia—it means that jeannette suffers from a fear of heights. the root word phobia, meaning “fear of,” comes from the greek word –phobos, which means “fearing.” acrophobia is one of the most prevalent phobias in the country.

kenneth: (to jeannette) i recall a few years ago when we traveled on an airplane to aunt janice’s house—you were enthralled, peering out the window at the scene below.

jeannette: i did have a tremendous time on the airplane; however, after that trip, my phobia gradually progressed, and now merely thinking about flying evokes terror and makes me squeamish. for me, riding the elevator to the top floor of a tall building is much like trekking up mount everest—it’s a gigantic feat of willpower.

mom: sometimes the best way to get over a fear is to face it. perhaps we should try to climb the mountain so that jeannette can tackle her fear. do you think it would intolerable for you, jeannette?

jeannette: (with a look of trepidation) i don’t believe i would be very excited during the ascent, and i may not reach the apex; yet, i would savor the astonishing panoramic views. but what if i lost my composure and chose not to climb with you? i would be loath to jeopardize your trip.

dad: jeannette, we’re a family; we must always support each other. i believe that if you’re brave enough to attempt the climb, we should be more than willing to stop if you feel overwhelmed or extremely uneasy.

mom: just trying is an immeasurable accomplishment!

kenneth: i’ll have a wonderful vacation as long as i get to view the noteworthy peak; everything else is secondary to me. what’s your verdict, jeannette?

jeannette: the thought of scaling a gigantic mountain is both scary and exhilarating. i must admit, the allure of mount whitney seems to trump my trepidation, and it would be incredible to overcome my fear. so, i suppose there is only one thing left to do—pack!