.png)
By Harper Hall
It’s a fact that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches taste best when sitting on the peak of a
mountain. Packing four sandwiches in a bread bag and trekking them along on a long hike only
to devour them overlooking a gorgeous view is a family tradition. Whether it’s the Blue Ridge
Mountains in North Carolina, the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, or Red River Gorge in
Kentucky, eating a PB&J on a hike is a staple. Hiking is a favorite family activity that offers my
family a space for joyful connection and valuable conversations. Thanks to the emphasis my
parents have placed on the importance of nature, I intentionally carve out time to explore the
environment that surrounds me.
Nature has always been a part of my life. My parents grew up running through the
foothills of rural Kentucky, and they wanted the same freedom for my brother and me, even
though we reside in the city. We live beside an urban forest, and being able to take a walk in
nature on a daily basis is a privilege I am incredibly grateful for. Each time I step into the woods
is a change of pace from my normal life. Surrounded by trees, I can reflect on my day and take a
mindful moment. My walks in the woods have enabled me to cultivate positive coping
mechanisms for the daily stress of life.
The mountains have always been a source of strength for me. Every summer throughout
my middle and highschool years, I traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to
attend the Presbyterian camp Montreat. My youth group has a tradition of hiking Lookout
Mountain, and this past year, as I stood on the horizon where the trees touch the clouds and the
Earth meets the Heavens, I once again marveled at the blissful clarity the natural world offers.
We arrived without our longtime mentor who had passed away from cancer a few months prior.
Together, we processed the grief that accompanies loss, and the environment offered solace and
stability. Nature can be a spiritual place that helps us process significant emotions independently
and collectively. Nature offers me restorative and spiritual moments to cultivate peace in the
midst of cell phones, school work, and busy schedules. It allows me to step away from my
responsibilities, clear my mind through a fresh breath of air, and return to daily life with clarity
and courage. Whether I am hiking, kayaking, or eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on an
overlook, I find that nature offers me moments of personal reflection, insights about my own
values, and opportunities for gratitude. I have cultivated my own moments of peace through
developing a relationship with the environment that surrounds and sustains me.
Harper Hall is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028. She is studying political science.