Mary Lauren Smith - Topic of My Choosing - The Wilderness

When I was a young child, my family and I would go hiking in the mountains of Blacksburg. My father, mother, brother, and dog and myself would all venture out into the unknown, no cellular service, water wells, houses; it was absolute peace and calmness. Without any electricity, I was able to see every star in the night sky. The wind's cool breeze brushed up against my cheek like a cold front, and the leaves rustled against the wind. Trees swayed back and forth as if they were dancing. I had never seen something so pure and beautiful. This place is sacred to me because our family hardly ever was able to go on trips away from home, because of my mother's business. Also, it is sacred to me because it was the first experience I ever had in the lone wilderness.