My parents have always been outdoorsy people, so naturally they took my brother and I outside as much as they could. Especially in Vermont's varied weather throughout the year, it gave us chances to have experiences outdoors all-year round. We would camp for at least for two weeks in the summer, and in the winter every Saturday was family ski day. Growing up in Vermont has made me incredibly grateful to live in such a beautiful place and has sometimes made me take it for granted. Though, as I get older I have realized more and more how lucky I am to live in Vermont.

There have been many moments where I have fully reflected on how much I appreciate Vermont but one important on was last fall when I was on the cross-country team. One of my favorite runs I have ever gone on was the state meet in Thetford. The trees were in their shift for the winter but they hadn't fallen yet. It was like the perfect picture of fall you would find if you looked it up on the internet. That race, after I got past the first mile, it truly was just me in the woods. While looking around at the scenery did not help my race pace, I was able to just run through the woods, appreciate the beauty, and think about how happy it made me feel. My running focused sports - cross-country and indoor/outdoor track - have made Vermont feel so much different. I believe that running through VT could be one of the best ways to view it. 

In the summer and fall there were always two spots that my parents would take my brother and I, a short two mile hike up Buck Mountain or the Watershed Center in Bristol. Me and my brother would always complain at the beginning of the hike but after the first mile we would always be much happier then when we were at home. I'm never as happy or at home then when I am in VT.