Whispers of the Wild by Christian Robert

 There is something about the wild that feels like home to me in a way nothing else does. When I step outside into nature, everything slows down. The noise, the pressure, the expectations all fade, and I am left with clarity. I genuinely do not think I would be complete without it. Nature is not just something I enjoy; it is something I need. A huge part of that comes from my love for travel. Getting to see new places, different landscapes, and cultures has opened my eyes to how big and beautiful the world really is. Whether I am in the mountains, the jungle, or walking through a new city, there is always something grounding about being surrounded by what God created. It reminds me that there is so much more than the small worries I get caught up in every day. But more than anything, the ocean is where I feel it the most. Being by the beach brings me a kind of peace that is hard to explain. The sound of the waves, the endless horizon, the feeling of sand under my feet. It is one of...

   Out of all the photos I have taken this semester, I think by far this picture is my favorite. It was specifically located on Laughing Bird Caye Island in Belize. It is a national park declared in 1991, and it operates as a “no-take zone,” which means you can’t collect seashells, coconuts, sand, etc. from here to take home. They sustain the coral, environment, and natural elements of the island to the utmost extent, which is so important and respectable. The Belizians have meticulously constructed this island to be like that because it is the only way to conserve natural beauty. My favorite part of this picture is the differing brackets of water as you look out further from the island. It goes from extremely shallow and crystal clear, to a little deeper, and you can notice where the coral starts to naturally form, then the drop-off is a dark blue, which we got to specifically see on our snorkel tour. The palm trees were beautiful, as well as how smooth and pearl white the sa...

  For my Outside Lies Magic extended time outdoors, I embarked on a camping trip with seven of my friends to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, from Friday to Sunday. It was about a four-hour drive, and we arrived later in the evening on Friday. Immediately, I felt the peacefulness and soundness of the campsite, Coyote. The stars were glistening in the sky, with the Big Dipper clearly in sight. Coyotes howled in the distance, and the trees moved in a unique rhythm with the wind. Even though there was so much going on, nature had a way of bringing an overwhelming sense of peace, filling my soul, mind, and body with positivity and purpose. We set up camp, made a fire, and toasted marshmallows. Throughout the trip, we cooked all of our own food on a skillet and had to be creative with what we had, which made the experience even more memorable. We woke up early on Saturday, drank black coffee, and set out on a 10-mile hike. As shown in the pictures, the views from the tops of the hills overlooked r...