“Splash!” I squint my eyes as icy water hits my face. My kayak and I get thrown down the class III river, and I try to stabilize myself with my paddle. It is my first time on a river of this magnitude, and my heart is racing. I am kayaking with a small group of my friends just outside of Glenwood Springs, and we are being led by an instructor down the river. Nervous, I quickly maneuver around a rock that has pierced through the surface of the gushing river. I paddle down into a fast-moving strip of water which shoots me back up into bubbly white. I try to maintain my balance, as water pours over my kayak. I glance up from the water and look ahead. My group disappears beyond a colossal rapid, and I paddle faster to gain speed. To a kayaker, a river consists of many features. Understanding the flow of the water is extremely important if you want to stay dry. The rapid ahead, in the kayaking world, is called a hole. In a hole, water rushes over a rock and forms an air pocket that is then backfilled with flowing water. This forms a hydraulic that spins like a washing machine. It can be dangerous, because if you capsize, the hydraulic keeps you in place and can trap you underwater. On the other side of the hole, some of my friends’ kayaks have already tipped; my heart pounds faster. I put all my focus and energy into paddling hard, as I splash in. I can feel the unrelenting force of water pulling me backwards, as it fills the air pocket. My face is doused with river water, and I can taste the fresh mountain moisture. I frantically try to escape the grasp of the river, as it begins to swallow me. “Paddle! Paddle!” Every bit of progress I make is erased by a treadmill of water. Suddenly, the nose of my kayak gives in. It turns to the side and becomes parallel with the gush of the rapid. In an instant, the river swallows me. Nothingness. All sounds have silenced. Slowly, the gush of the river returns, as the senses recoup following the ice-cold shock. Exiting the kayak, I try to swim to the surface. The river, however, does not let go, and soon “up” becomes a incomprehensible term. My lungs scream for oxygen, but the river does not listen. My shoulder slams against a rock on the river floor, as the hydraulic flips me around. In a final effort, I thrust my body to the surface. I pierce through the water’s surface, and the roar of the river suddenly fills my ears. I cough and cough, sputtering out water and replacing it with sweet, dry air. My lungs ache, and adrenaline pumps through my veins. I am drifting down to another rapid, but my buddy is already there. I grab onto the back of his kayak, and he tells me to hold on as we go over the rapid. My lungs gulp down a breath, and I plunge into the water. I concentrate solely on holding on to the small metal handles. The river tries to take hold of me once again, but the kayak tugs me out. I resurface. Our group and my other capsized friends scramble to shore, where we recuperate. Peeling back my wetsuit, I observe my shoulder: two bruises and a bloody scrape. After a swig of water, it is time to get back in the kayaks. At first, I tell myself I cannot do it. “This river is too challenging for you,” some part of my conscience says. However, a stronger part of my conscience sees the challenge as an invitation. I get right back in my kayak and paddle out to the river. My experience with the capsized kayak has taught me to work through panic. However, the excitement and adrenaline that came with it are just a few of the many other similar experiences that have worked to confirm my passion for the outdoors. It is in these humbling and awe-inspiring situations where I feel most alive and connected. This, I believe, is an important passion to pursue, and one that I believe defines me as a person. I hope to always possess an adventurous spirit and never to fall back on my love and reverence for the great outdoors.
Anonymous
I believe that nothing in life matters. Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, and everybody's going to die having lived a meaningless life. In a thousand years none of us will matter and nothing anyone did will have any effect on the earth. In some million years, all life on earth will inevitably cease to exist and there’s nothing we can do about it. We will either get sucked into a black hole, collide with another universe, or be wiped out by the explosion of the sun end we will end up like the dinosaurs. I believe that space as we know it is infinitely large and our universe is infinitely expanding at an accelerating rate. We are just a tiny pixel on an infinitely large television screen, and everything that matters in your world, matters not at all to 99.9% of people. Time is infinite and we only live about a maximum of 100 years, which is literally closer to zero than any other number when compared to infinite time. We think so highly of ourselves; we think that what we do matters, but on a large scale, we are just meaningless molecules in an endless sea of space and time.
I believe that our existence is a lie. We were put on Earth without asking to be, and we are expected to submit to society and follow the rules of the world. What is our purpose? What is the meaning of life? We ask ourselves this every day, but no one knows the answer. We try to make up answers to make life a little more tolerable, but those are nothing but a lie as well. For example, what is love? Why do we love? Well, I believe that the answer is simple. Love is a lie. To say “I love you” is a lie. Love is but a chemical reaction that compels animals to breed. We fall in “love,” we produce offspring, and then we fall out of “love” and divorce. The cycle continues over and over and over again, and no generation is smart enough to break it.
Why did we invent purpose? Why do we spend all of our time as young adults working from nine to five five days a week just to grow old, retire, and die? Why do we do anything? Why do we continue to live knowing that life is meaningless? Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? Why do we argue about the answers to questions we know nothing about? Well, since this is about what I believe, I believe that once we die, literally everything will cease to exist and we will transcend into an endless sleep. I believe that all religion is a lie and only an excuse to put meaning into death, in effect putting meaning into life.
I believe that nothing in life matters. We don’t matter. Nothing we do matters or has any effect on anything. We live because we’re forced to. We try because we think it will matter. But we don’t realize that our existence is a lie.
Anonymous I believe in respect, and for this essay I believe that as humans, consumers, and hunters we ought to respect the world we live on. We can waste time, money, or energy; anything that is a privilege can in be essence be wasted. One thing I believe that we should do a better job of is not wasting food. What bothers me about food is that it is quantitative privilege, but we treat it like it's limitless or a right. Food waste comes in multiple forms, whether it be thrown out, crops burned, or unused completely. As a hunter, I have begun to appreciate what I eat because I have had to kill what’s for dinner. Shopping for meat is a lot different than having to end a life of an innocent creature. It sickens me to see people waste meat because something died for you to eat it. Many people become vegetarian in rebellion against meat production. The problem with this is a lack of consumption, what isn’t eaten is eventually wasted. Farmers experience a similar problem. When faced with low prices, many farmers burn their crops because it is more expensive to harvest and sell. This problem stems from a consumer’s non-willingness to pay a true price for food. I believe if people were willing to pay for what they’re eating they’d be more conscientious of what they are wasting. However, the leading cause of food waste happens to be waste itself, to simply throw it out. Roughly 40% of food produced or sold is ultimately thrown out. It makes no difference when it's bought in the eyes of the producer, but when you think of where the food came from, whether it be animal, farm, or production, it seems evil to throw something out that took time and energy to produce. I believe waste is bad, but I'm still confused with our society: what gives someone the right to throw out something that took years to create?
Zoe Fischoff
I believe in wearing socks to go to sleep. I believe that sarcasm is a useful tool of communication. I believe that the cat versus dog debate has a correct answer, and that answer is both. I believe that the pickling process should be reserved for cucumbers and ginger. I believe in being kind even to people who do not deserve it. I believe in dressing up to go to the theater.
I believe in not taking myself too seriously. I believe that there is no such thing as too many books. I believe that spiders, though admittedly useful, are the scariest living things on the planet. I believe that puns are undervalued. I believe in listening more than you speak. I believe that there is always a bright side. I believe that cold, rainy, and miserable is the best weather.
I believe there are no hopeless cases. I believe that people-watching is underrated. I believe in the power of the pantsuit. I believe in handmade birthday cards. I believe musical theater is the highest form of entertainment. I believe flip-flops are imbecilic. I believe that popcorn is the perfect snack. I believe that the only thing that can define you is what you do next.
I believe that philatelist is a ridiculously entertaining word for a ridiculously mundane thing. I believe that little things are the most important things. I believe that you are under no obligation to be the person you were five minutes ago. I believe in inside jokes. I believe that words have meaning. I believe in words that have meaning. I believe in going above and beyond for the people who matter to you.
I believe in following your heart. I believe in sitting on the floor. I believe in eating dirt as a child. I believe that a great deal can be communicated via an excellent hat. I believe that museums are the best use of one's weekend. I believe in challenging yourself. I believe in being grateful.
I believe revenge is a dish best served with and foie gras and Sauvignon Blanc. I believe in talking to myself. I believe in the power of jazz, more specifically, jazz hands. I believe in helping others when you can, and accepting help when you can’t. I believe laughter is the best and least damaging narcotic. I believe in embracing the unknown and the foreign.
I believe that all too often we look at air travel as a nuisance rather than the miracle of human innovation that it is. I believe in storytelling. I believe that no one is undeserving of respect. I believe in humming unashamedly down the street. I believe in the importance of role models. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe in gray areas. I believe that it’s alright if you are unable to articulate all that you believe.
Anonymous
Biking with my mom during the worst summer of my life. The floods had gone but now all the canyons were on fire. The sky was almost constantly a shade of burnt orange because of all the smog. It was brutally hot and my family and friends all seemed to be struggling. My mom had been in a bad bike crash a week back--several ribs cracked, wrist broken, and road rash so bad she barely had any skin on most of her right side.
The world seemed to be destructing and the people in it crumbling, and on top of that, the heat made everyone irritable and sticky.
But that one bike ride changed everything.
There was a lake; it was literally steaming in the heat. But in the shade the hot water was dark and littered with water lilies. Alive and growing. Despite everything, the heat, the fires, the flowers were there and they were beautiful.
That's the moment I knew. No matter what is happening in the world, life will go on and it will thrive. Everything would work out one way or another in the end.
That calmed me more than I knew I needed, and I will carry that memory and that sentiment with me forever, in a tattoo behind my ear.
Anonymous
I believe in the people that make the right decisions whenever they have the opportunity to do so, even if it may be hard or even if it requires additional effort. These people are the ones who will edge out their competition in whatever they do simply because they continue to do the right thing time and time again. During my tenure at Fairview, I have tried to uphold these qualities of integrity and honesty in addition to being the best person I can be to everyone I meet. I definitely feel that I have benefitted from doing so along with those around me. While Fairview has an outstanding pool of academic talent, only a few of my classmates have really stood out as being exceptional, not only in school but also when it comes being a people’s person. These people go the extra mile to not slight anyone around them sheerly for a joke, hold the door for the person behind them, or simply just interact with everyone they come in contact with a professional and polite manner. Having doubted myself so much this year and having so much negativity that comes with this self criticism, few things felt more alleviating than simply talking with someone who wants to make you feel important, relevant, and respected, regardless of if they know what is going on in your personal life or not. While it may seem cliche and soft, all of the people who simply smile in the hall when they see you can add up to make a hard day a lot less stressful, whether that day is wrought with the instability of an alcoholic family member or weighed down by depression. I hope these people will go far because they make the little moments into ones that are memorable and beneficial for everyone involved.
While many of these people have so many various academic and extracurricular achievements under their belts, their ability to make anyone feel better and feel included in whatever they do, from going to school events to studying to simply having conversations, will give them an advantage over equally qualified candidates in whatever field they choose. I believe in these people because of their unwavering belief that everyone should be valued and should be respected, from parents to peers to professors. So many people are concerned with impressing friends, even at the expense of others, that it is a refreshing change to be able to call these amazing people my classmates, and some of them friends. These people understand that their opinions are important but do not interject when it is inappropriate and who take intelligent and reserved perspectives on many issues. Too many people in our society think that their opinion is the end-all-be-all without even acknowledging that there are other views, but these few classmates walk the fine line in between two sides of a debate, and do so with an unparalleled grace. To the knights who continue to put on their finest side for the world to see every day: I believe in you, and I hope you will go far in whatever endeavors you find yourself involved in.