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Introduction

Personal essay By Declan Hamilton A hot day at the beach is a lovely place to be in the middle of summer. No clouds covering the skies or winds destroying the air so why was this not an enjoyable day? Well if I remember correctly, I was excited and beside myself. My Father, Michael, and my mother Sue thought it would be a good idea to take the kids for an adventure. I was at the age of 11, and was very enthusiastic about the idea. A day at Cowes beach in Narooma, a day of excitement and wave riding was what I considered entertainment. We would then be back in time for the movie ?Over the Hedge? back at the resort. Getting into the ocean proved to be harder than I imagined. Each step brought a cold sensation that slowly crept up my leg until I gained the courage to immerse myself in the water. A refreshing cold sensation covered my body as I climbed up onto my surfboard. ...read more.

Middle

My attempts of getting out into the waves ended up being unsuccessful, the water spitting me back to the shallows as though it hated my presence. After many efforts I decided to surf the white water that came in from the waves like fluffy white foam. I managed to stand up on my board, which brought a floating sensation, an amazing feeling, a feeling of which I was at one with the ocean. I continued to surf the smaller waves, keeping an eye on my family. After catching a small wave I went to reach the bottom of the ocean. Nevertheless to my despair nothing pressed back at my feet. I then felt the urge to reach the shallows, so I continued to swim towards the shore. However my efforts proved useless against the ocean?s strength, which pulled my feeble body into its depths. Fear then took over my body; my arms reached out and brought my surfboard to my side. I then screamed out in a panic, waving my arms frantically. My mother?s face caught my eye. ...read more.

Conclusion

My fear soon turned to anger towards my dad. Why was he taking so long? My surfboard strap kept pulling at my ankle and it was as though it was also an enemy to my weak and suffering body. Finally my dad?s rough hands pulled me down onto my surfboard, and a sense of freedom overcame me as we pushed towards shore. My dad?s arms lifted me into the air and placed me down on the sand. I pushed my feet into the soft dry sand. My body ached but I felt safe and no longer trapped. My mother?s arms flung around me and she embraced me tightly. ?Don?t you ever do that again? she whispered as I closed my eyes and thought of what had just happened. The entire experience was a test of physical and mental strength. At the time I wanted nothing more than to be somewhere else. The feeling off helplessness and having no control over my actions was a daunting experience and seemed to never end. However, once back at home I was able to think through the thoughts and fear and treasure the unique memories I had of the experience. ...read more.

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