Nicholas Acker Student Experience #2: Fishing

Fishing is something I have always enjoyed doing. While I am far from a professional angler, the experience as a whole is enjoyable. For a few hours out of the day I am free from the hustle and bustle of the world we live in. I can walk down a path with my tackle box, pole, and a good friend and just escape for a while. As I sit in my comfortable reclining chair, munch on a few snacks and enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage, the true wilderness experience is lacking, but I manage to enjoy what the banks of the lake have to offer. I have turned the life or death struggles of other animals to catch fish, into somewhat of a game (which I continuously lose). The idea of survival of the fittest and the symbiotic relationship between the animals and the environment around me always manages to capture my attention. I do not fit in with this setting, and I almost feel like it is wrong to throw off the natural balance of the lake with my presence. I make as little impact as possible; cleaning my space, releasing my catch, and respecting my surroundings. I am a guest and being able to enjoy this little pocket of unspoiled wilderness is a privilege. While I was out, the thing that caught my attention the most was how much I take the sunset for granted every day. Here, while I relax and enjoy my time away, I can’t help but get sucked in watching the sky change color and a whole new set of animals sound out in the night. The time came for me to leave, but the little self-contained ecosystem of the lake continues on without me.