At 14,000 feet in the air, Diana Cotter stepped out of the door of a small airplane and descended toward land. The free fall lasted for about 30 seconds at a speed of 120 mph. In a short period of time, Cotter fell from 14,000 feet to 7,000 feet. At 6,000 feet Cotter deployed her parachute and, after a few minutes of floating in the sky, arrived safely on the ground.

“I remember that after I landed, I was the happiest person on earth,” Cotter said. “Skydiving was one of the most exciting and intense experiences that I’ve encountered.”

Cotter, a 23-year-old communication major, is a self-proclaimed “outdoor girl” who enjoys exciting and intense activities. After moving from Houston to Mexico as a child, Cotter found she liked trying new experiences.

“The exposure to new people, culture and language was crucial for my interest for adventure,” Cotter said. “Since I was a little girl, I have always felt the need for adventure.”

One of Cotter’s earliest outdoor activities occurred at a summer camp where she learned how to put together a tent. Cotter fell in love with the outdoors. Since then, she has tried many outdoor sports including skiing, skydiving, kayaking, rafting, snorkeling and playing paintball.

“I performed many activities that made me feel passionate for adventure,” Cotter said. “Cliff diving was one of the first activities that made me feel an adrenaline rush. We had to climb to the top of the cliff, probably 20-feet high, and when we got to the upper part I looked down and saw excitement.”

Some of Cotter’s friends and family members have accompanied her in these extreme sport quests.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say that Diana is into extreme sports,” said Jessica Faz, a fellow communication major. “It’s more than that. Skydiving and parasailing are her way of experiencing the world. The first time I saw Diana after she went kayaking, she was absolutely beaming. The next thing I knew, I was canoeing down a creek.”

Cotter skiing in Denver, CO. Photo courtesy of Diana Cotter.