I have now been a student at this university for 8 months. Each and every day I walk to class, I pass by this biology pond, yet never once have I stopped and really enjoyed it's beauty. There are always numerous amounts of people gathered on the lush green grass that surrounds the pond. Whether they are basking in the sun or just relaxing in the shade of the tall trees, I have always wanted to take the time to relax next to them. But, with being a first year pre-med major, I never seem to be able to find the time to relax and enjoy the peacefullness the pond has to offer.

That is the problem with society as a whole. Nobody ever has time to "stop and smell the roses." We are all just too busy to make an effort to enjoy the nature that god has blessed us with. In my eyes that is a huge problem, yet I would be a hypocrit if I said I wasn't the same. Sadly, I am. I also think that society abuses animals as a whole. They never seem to realize that taking an animal out of the wild and putting it in a home is just not right. These are the kinds of people who "have been taught that animals actually want to be used and abused" (Slavic, 141). It breaks my heart that people really do teach their children to live this way.

Right now, at this very moment, I am more intune with the pond than I have been or ever will be again. The weather is very relaxing and soothing. It's not too hot or too cold, but the wind is blowing rather hard. Honestly, I don't mind it one little bit. I can just sit back and enjoy the wind blowing in my face and hair. It cools and soothes my body, mind and soul. I notice that the water, in one section of the pond, is rippling so perfectly as the wind blows across it's surface. It reminds me of my childhood on the lake. We would just take our boat out on the water and cruz for hours. Watching the waves as they left the side of the boat and headed for the shoreline, it was wonderful. The more and more I watched the ripples in the pond, the more and more I want to stick my feet in the water. Sitting on the cool rocks on a warm spring day, with the wind blowing just right, and my feet dangling so gently in the cool water. That is pure joy to me-pure peacefullness and relaxation that is so hard to find these days. I couldn't ask for more.

I move to another section of the pond and find that time is flying bby as I watch the water, and it's life forms, move in so many unique and different ways. The turtles that live in this pond are the sole creature that attracts visitors for hours upon hours. My heart would be content with sitting and observing these turtles. So much action goes on under the surface, and we never even realize what it taking place. These turtles fight for rock space, so they can bask in the warm sunshine. They remind me of little children fighting over a favorite toy. One rock must have at least 20 turtles pilled onto each other. It looks as though the ones on the bottom don't mind, I'm just glad it's not me. The turtles must have adapted in some way to live happliy in such a small pond with not much to offer. These "slight modifications, which in anywya favoured the individuals of any species," have left life in this pond suitable for the turtles. Each time one comes up for a breath, a perfect little ring is left in the water that spreads so well. It is so interesting to me that happens like that.