It's cold, foggy and dark. Everything seems dead around me: brown grass, bare, gaunt trees, my tired classmates. I look at wildlife and think of greener, more beautiful places. I imagine hiking in North Carolina or Austria, where nature doesn't need sprinklers to stay green. Why am I awake now? How can I find beauty in this hike? How can I write an essay on this topic? Despite my negative thoughts, I force myself to focus on the hike. Birds fly through the crisp air, singing their morning melodies and perching in trees and telephone wires. I hear cows grazing and feel a nice cool breeze. The road curves and the hilly landscape suddenly appears more beautiful as we pass through the quarry. The fresh scent of a stand of eucalyptus trees overwhelms me and brings back memories of the many times I have enjoyed Catalina Island. As I exhale, fond childhood memories make me more and more excited about my journey and I imagine climbing a large oak tree nearby. A small white butterfly flutters next to me and a group of well camouflaged deer...