The college application provided the following directions: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself and others.

When you are the only person in your family who says “yes” to sailing with your uncle, there is a reason you were the only one. Like this sailing trip, life can be deceiving and make the journey seem easier than it really is.

On a warm afternoon at Lake Winnipesaukee I set off with my Uncle Victor to Rattlesnake Island, seven miles away from our family’s lake house. As we pulled away from the dock, the wind was coming from behind us, guiding us with speed and letting my excitement grow. On our journey to Rattlesnake Island, I learned all about sailing; I was taught how to steer and tack the small sunfish. I finally understood why my uncle loves sailing so much. My curiosity helped my mind develop an interest in something for which I had never seemed to care. As the waves splashed over the bow, I realized how happy I was on the water. When we reached Rattlesnake Island and docked our boat, we climbed the small peak to see one of the most beautiful views. I can still remember looking out over the scattered islands with the sun slowly moving down over Lake Winnipesaukee.

Trouble started as we got back on the boat and started our journey home. The same wind that helped us get there was now holding us back. We had already been sailing for about half an hour, getting nowhere, when one particularly hard wave pushed our boat a little too far. Just like that, I was in the water. We had capsized our small sailboat, and I did not know what to do. As my uncle called instructions to set the boat aright there was no time for fear, even though I felt so small surrounded by the lake that had no intentions of making this an easy trip. An hour later and two more times capsizing, we were still getting nowhere; I had lost one of my shoes and the daylight was leaving us. My uncle looked around and saw a motor boat anchored with a couple in it. He sailed the sunfish close to the motor boat and shouted to them asking them for a tow. The strangers agreed to tow us back to the lake house. On the boat ride back to the house, we noticed that the sun was close to disappearing under the horizon. As we were being towed, we saw a boat pull over to us. It was our family; they had come to rescue us! We thanked the strangers and reunited with our loved ones as we safely got back to the camp with a story to tell at dinner.

Looking back on the memory, I do not think of the fear I felt or the cold water that left me shivering on the boat. I think of learning to sail; I think of the most incredible views and the feeling of knowing I made the right decision to go sailing that day. I learned how powerful mother nature can be and how we must appreciate the environment and work with it rather than against it. I learned to always get back up and keep going; if I capsize or if I fail at a test, I always keep going. I learned to appreciate the kindness that strangers can offer and to always try to offer it back. I learned the endless love my family will have for me. I learned to look at the bright side of things, and say “yes” to new experiences. I learned to follow my curiosity, as it will only enrich my life with knowledge and passion. I also learned that if my uncle asks me to go sailing with him, I will always say “yes”.