College Essay
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
It was bright and early in the morning, and while the sun peeked over the luscious green mountain tops and started to shine brightly off the small clear lake, my father and I made our way down the rocky hill down to the shore where we dropped our tackle boxes and bait. For a moment, I peered off into the distance before quickly getting to work on tying a small weight and a hook to one of the many fishing rods that we had brought with us. Looking down, I could sense the little waves crashing off the thin shale rocks beneath me. Before casting out my line, I glanced over the waters, noticing the small ripples from flies landing on the water, and the occasional jump from a fish. I immediately threw my line out into the water in front of me, and it wasn’t long until we were playing the waiting game.
We sat almost directly across from the inlet and the point where the small Mancos river met the crystal clear lake known as Jackson Gulch Reservoir. We awaited patiently as the light morning breeze blew small short waves across the lake.Every now and then I felt short thumps hit my line, but not one solid bite allowed me with an opportunity to reel anything in. I remember asking myself if I should reel my line in and try again in a new spot, though right as the thought crosses my mind, I felt a slight tug and the fishing reel started to spin the opposite direction. Almost 30 minutes had passed, so I wasn’t going to let the fish get away. I grabbed the rod and started to reel it in, noticing the rainbow stripe which glared off of the side of the trout as it got closer. As I brought it in, my dad quickly grabbed the stringer to secure the fish and gently laid it in the water. A few hours passed and afternoon approached, to our surprise only one fish had been caught. Though to my surprise, it wasn’t about whoever had caught the most or biggest fish. I was about being out in nature, in Colorado.
For more than a decade, fishing has been passion and a way of life I have shared with millions of others across this world, and while modern society continues to shift towards electronics and new technology, there will be no feeling the same as reeling in a fish or witnessing the morning sunrise glare across the water. Growing up I had played many sports and hobbies, and while baseball and other sports really struck my interest, fishing seemed to always be at the top of my list. It is a hobby that whether you catch a lot or nothing at all, it will always leave me with an eagerness to get back out and do it again, for I was not just there to catch fish, but also to experience the outdoors. I believe that growing up in Colorado has bolstered my passion even more, since it allows me the opportunity to witness the wilderness around me in the shape of mountains, trees, and the wildlife that prey upon flies and fish. Fishing has taught me to enjoy the moment and for what I have around me, a valuable lesson to cherish moving on.
It was bright and early in the morning, and while the sun peeked over the luscious green mountain tops and started to shine brightly off the small clear lake, my father and I made our way down the rocky hill down to the shore where we dropped our tackle boxes and bait. For a moment, I peered off into the distance before quickly getting to work on tying a small weight and a hook to one of the many fishing rods that we had brought with us. Looking down, I could sense the little waves crashing off the thin shale rocks beneath me. Before casting out my line, I glanced over the waters, noticing the small ripples from flies landing on the water, and the occasional jump from a fish. I immediately threw my line out into the water in front of me, and it wasn’t long until we were playing the waiting game.
We sat almost directly across from the inlet and the point where the small Mancos river met the crystal clear lake known as Jackson Gulch Reservoir. We awaited patiently as the light morning breeze blew small short waves across the lake.Every now and then I felt short thumps hit my line, but not one solid bite allowed me with an opportunity to reel anything in. I remember asking myself if I should reel my line in and try again in a new spot, though right as the thought crosses my mind, I felt a slight tug and the fishing reel started to spin the opposite direction. Almost 30 minutes had passed, so I wasn’t going to let the fish get away. I grabbed the rod and started to reel it in, noticing the rainbow stripe which glared off of the side of the trout as it got closer. As I brought it in, my dad quickly grabbed the stringer to secure the fish and gently laid it in the water. A few hours passed and afternoon approached, to our surprise only one fish had been caught. Though to my surprise, it wasn’t about whoever had caught the most or biggest fish. I was about being out in nature, in Colorado.
For more than a decade, fishing has been passion and a way of life I have shared with millions of others across this world, and while modern society continues to shift towards electronics and new technology, there will be no feeling the same as reeling in a fish or witnessing the morning sunrise glare across the water. Growing up I had played many sports and hobbies, and while baseball and other sports really struck my interest, fishing seemed to always be at the top of my list. It is a hobby that whether you catch a lot or nothing at all, it will always leave me with an eagerness to get back out and do it again, for I was not just there to catch fish, but also to experience the outdoors. I believe that growing up in Colorado has bolstered my passion even more, since it allows me the opportunity to witness the wilderness around me in the shape of mountains, trees, and the wildlife that prey upon flies and fish. Fishing has taught me to enjoy the moment and for what I have around me, a valuable lesson to cherish moving on.