Experience of a Natural Setting, Laura Boleyn

One experience that I have had during the semester in a visit with nature was at the Noland Trail. It was a Sunday afternoon and I just wanted to get out of my dorm and away from campus without having to drive anywhere. I wasn’t looking for a connection or a spiritual experience and I did not have one. However, being there enabled me to think clearly, and the quiet serenity of the spot where I sat for a while just kept me there. This visit helped to me to finally decide that I don’t belong here at CNU. It helped me remember all of the reasons why I wanted to come here and all of the things I want from my college experience. Just sitting there, being able to think without people or without interruption helped to really clear my mind and reason. Being in a place without unnecessary distractions and a place that offered me clarity helped me realize that, as much as I appreciate my experiences here, I unfortunately don’t fit in at CNU and that I need a change, anywhere but here. That day, I appreciated nature as a place for clarity and renewal, even though I was expecting it. Even though I went just to get outside and enjoy the weather and environment, I got much more: the clarity and serenity I needed to sort through a mixture of confusing thoughts I had been having throughout the semester.