East Fork State Park

Erin Conley
Professor Shepherd
Essay 1

East fork State Park

1. positive
I often visit East Fork State Park for its beautiful scenery. Today I sit at the same picnic table as always, old and worn yet still sturdy, moist from the early morning dew. Names of lovers and friends engraved in the old wood to remember fun times past. I look out through the openings between the surrounding forest at the deep colored water moving swiftly yet peacefully against the bank. I see many boats filled with families jetting in and out of my view as they enjoy their last few nice days of summer. Their music and laughter fills the valley with echoes of happiness. The ever so brief peaks of sunlight shine between the clouds onto the lake to make a mirrored image of the sky above. Birds sing loudly throughout the forest and other animals can be heard in the distance enticed to flee in fear of hikers, hiking the nearby trail. The smells of different foods fill the air from the grills placed throughout the park. I enjoy seeing the park filled with families spending time together, it reminds me of times past.
2. negative
I often visit East Fork State Park for its diverse scenery. Today I sit at the same picnic table as always, old worn in need of repairs and paint for the locals have defaced it with graffiti and engravings of names and vulgar statements. I look out through the overgrown openings to catch a glimpse of the black choppy water, stirred by the many boats jetting by. The music and obnoxious screams from boaters deprives me from the peace and quiet I usually find here. I look to the sky to find the clouds blocking most of the sun’s rays, making for a gloomy day. Hikers crowd the trail that used to be so peaceful spooking the animals that I love to observe. The smoke from nearby grills placed throughout the park creates a thick blanket of charcoal smoke throughout the forest and down the trails. I find the park to be more crowded than in past visits.

Erin Conley
Professor Shepherd
Essay 1

East Fork

When doing this exercise I learned a few different things that I hope will come to be useful in my journey of life. I learned not to take things for granted. There is no utopia, you can visit the same spot every day and identify different pros and cons each day. Nature changes every day, some days are better than others whether the sun shines at its fullest or is hidden by a thick blanket of clouds. The day is what you make it to be. They way you perceive your surroundings depend on your mood and company.
If you visit your favorite spot on a day that you’re not in the best mood, it could influence the way you perceive your surroundings. You could find certain things annoying, where before you may have enjoyed watching them. For instance if you go to the park seeking peace and quiet, and find many boats speeding through the water with their loud music and excited screams from children being pulled in tubes behind the boats deprives you of the peace that you sought out to enjoy.
The company that you bring with you when visiting the park affects how your visit turns out. If you take a loved one you are more likely to have a good time than you would if you where to take just an acquaintance or go alone. If you’re close to the person you’re spending time with you are more likely to enjoy your surroundings because you have someone you care about to enjoy it with. If you were to visit alone you would spend more time focusing on the negative.
This exercise makes you realize that nothing in life is perfect. There will always be differences in everyday experiences. That’s what leads me to believe that this exercise will be most helpful in my life for years to come.