A few weeks ago, I went to an abandoned gas station to explore a creek nearby the property. One of my friends had told me about it and I was eager to find a new place to go to. Usually, this would seem odd to most people. Why does this girl trespass on abandon property to just see a creek? Truthfully, I love it. Ever since I was little I have always held an interest in anything in nature. My family would go on weekend trips to go camping at different spots as much as we could. Camping, hiking, playing in creeks, and the lake describe much of my childhood. So, naturally, I try to get out and discover new hidden areas of solitude as much as I can. It brings me peace and happiness. When I find a new area to read a book or just go to think I feel at home. Even if it means just driving around looking for areas that are pretty and wasting gas, I wouldn’t want to do anything else with my day. I prefer to study outside than sit inside the boring white walls of my dorm. I would rather get sub sandwiches and eat them outside near a park than go to a fancy restaurant. I have always loved going to new parks and exploring the trails and creeks. Some people don’t appreciate the beauty of nature and call me weird, but it is truly one of my favorite things to do.
Recently, I have noticed how similar my nature outings and my writing can be. When I go to explore new areas, I am always looking for something new and different to go to next time. I usually go to the same place a couple of times, but then I am eager to discover and explore what else is out there.

The same concept could be applied to my writing. This semester has taught me to never stop trying to improve on my writing. Through discovering weaknesses, going through multiple drafts, and realizing multiple different peer reviews make a huge difference, writing this semester has taught me that there is always something you can work on, and that there are other things to explore and learn about. Writing, just like my adventures to an abandon gas station, is just another exploration to hidden treasures.