The Learning Experience By: Natalie

The Learning Experience By: Natalie

Morning sun struck me from the open window. Then the cold morning air started to blow on me. “Hey!” I said just opening my eyes to see my sister taking off the covers that contained so much warmth and comfort. I yawned in tiredness, looking up at my sister who stared down at me with her brown eyes that were glossy; they always reminded me of how loving she was to me.

“You know how dad is about if we don’t get to the trailhead on time,” my sister exclaimed. I curled up into a ball trying to create warmth for myself. I finally crawled out of bed tired and cold. I went to the kitchen where my mom was peeling a fresh apple and my dad was packing a hiking backpack. I smiled and took a seat at the table, and started eating a waffle.

After I had had gotten ready and eaten breakfast, I started putting on my hiking shoes. I tugged the toggle of the shoe up, and pushed my foot into it. It was hard to get these shoes on. I tugged, I pulled, I put all my muscle into it, but it wouldn’t work. “Can you help me?” I asked a little frustrated to my sister.

“Try again. You’ll get it,” my sister answered back. I glared a little at her. Wasn’t everyone always saying that, ‘try again’? Sometimes you need help! Then I thought, well I guess I could try again. I slipped my foot out of the shoe (that hurt from all the tugging and pulling) and shoved it in again. This time it worked. I then stood up from the bench, and climbed into the car with my family.

As we rode through the mountains a crunching sound came from the tires under the gravel road. My eyes lit up as the trailhead came into view. It was beautiful with the sun waking up from it’s sleep, and just peeking over the mountain tops. It looked as though it was brighter this morning for some reason. It gleamed with vibrant rays.

I started out on the gravel path with excitement.I stepped over stones and broken tree trunks. The cold mountain wind blustered in my face with power. The air was filled with a strong pine scent. I almost let the strong wind blow me back, but then I stabilized myself.

After a while there was a fork in the road one going left, the other going right. My family (not really thinking about which way we were going) turned right. The surroundings looked a little different, but maybe I was just imagining.

Later on, we were in what looked more like a grassy meadow than a hiking trail. There were tall green and yellow grasses, the path was thin and muddy, and there was a spars amount of trees. “Is this right?” my sister asked. My dad unfolded a large map with red, blue, and purple lines with a tan background.

“I see! We took a wrong turn by the fork in the path. It’s alright we’ll get back a different way,” my dad explained to the four fretful faces that peeked over his shoulder. I was a little scared. Were we lost? Were we going to get back? I trudged on behind my dad slowing down a little. The hot sun beet on my face. But I could keep going. I sighed in exhaustion. Though I just kept my legs moving.

My shoes were muddy, my pants had dirt all over them, and my legs ached. Did I have to go on? Mosquitoes buzzed around me; I swatted the annoying creatures away. I was frustrated. I wanted to stop. I was so tired of going on and on.

That’s when I remembered another time like this. I was staring down at that blank page ( in writing) wondering, Why couldn't I come up with those many ideas I had had before. Then I picked that pencil backup, and told myself ‘ you can come of with those many ideas, just maybe with a little extra work; and maybe not as easy as before’. So maybe this hiking trip was the same as that blank page. I could always improve it, with a little extra work. Then I left my tired, dragging self behind and quickened my pace with more exhilaration. I also remembered this morning when I told myself I couldn’t get my shoe on, but after trying again I could.That’s when I saw a little bit beyond the long grasses, the skinny mud covered path lead to the parking lot (where we were supposed to be an hour ago). My eyes lit up; we had finally reached the end.

On the car ride home I looked out the window at the trees, vibrantly colored flowers, and grass that the lined the road. This hiking trip might have been a disaster to some people, but a learning experience for me.