Living a mentally and psychically healthy lifestyle has many benefits. Living a healthy lifestyle helps your body perform tasks with high efficiency. I like to think of myself as an example. Going into my sophomore year of college, I was underweight and was really struggling with mental health issues. I often lacked motivation to make healthy meals, study, complete assignments, and even leave my room sometimes. After winter break I knew I needed a change. I stated to hit the gym 3-4 times a week. I started bulking, and setting time aside to make complete meals high in protein. I started ditching processed breakfast meals and switched to organic fruits and vegetables. During my time out of the gym, I started setting time limits on my phone and earlier bedtimes in attempt to be more productive throughout the day. After 4 months of consistent work and living a healthier lifestyle, I gained 22 pounds. During this time, I recall being more energized and motivated. I even felt more comfortable and confident in my own body. Not to forget, I also finished the school year just missing the Deans list by 0.05 points. As bummed as I was, I was proud of myself for how far I came. I use this experience in my life as an example of why its always important to live a healthy lifestyle.

My passion of fly fishing and exploring wildlife has had a tremendous impact on my life. My passion for fly fishing and exploring wildlife began in the spring of 2020. During this time I was a senior in high school. Covid had just hit and I was released from school 3 months early. During this time, I was unsure what to do with myself. My entire life up until then surrounded around school and sports. I became quiet and depressed. During this period I made it a goal to pick up a new hobby. That hobby was fly fishing. I spent countless hours researching videos on how to fly fish, where to fly fish, and what flies to use. I put these skills to the test many times and had nothing to show for. The urge to give up was tempting, but I was determined to become successful at this new hobby. After a whole year of practicing, and researching, I finally succeeded. It took 28 fly fishing trips in order for me to catch my first fish. I still remember the moment like it was yesterday. Upon landing the steelhead (migratory rainbow trout) I realized just how beautiful these fish truly are. From that moment on, I wanted to be able to share this experience with others. I am now going into my Junior year of college. I have gained much knowledge and skills since I first started. I have also been able to help share my passion with others. My passion has had a tremendous impact on my life. Its allowed me to experience overwhelming excitement and aw for our wildlife. Fly fishing brought me out of a dark place in my life, and showed me the excitement in what nature has to offer. Fly fishing has changed my entire personality as well. In high school, I was very uptight. I lived a very fast paced life, and was always stressed. This attributed to my gloomy mood. When I started fly fishing, it brought an inner peace in me. There is nothing calmer than fly fishing alone in a river, back in the woods. Fly fishing is a stress reliever for me. It has also brought me a greater appreciation for our wildlife. Being able to watch and interact with wildlife and its surrounding environment is beyond a blessing. This is my story on how fly fishing changed my life for the better.