Submitted by Dylan Nicholson on the 2017 winter session study abroad program in Costa Rica and Panama sponsored by the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology…
As I sat on a cut log on the beach of Coiba Island looking out into the Pacific Ocean, I was overcome by a sense of serenity. It didn’t feel real to be surrounded by pure untouched nature. Simple moments like this can be hard to find in a society that is run by technology and guided by social media. While on the island, we were disconnected from everything. There was no internet or phone reception and while that may sound daunting it was just what I needed. For the first time in a long time, I was able to focus solely on soaking in the beautiful natural world around me. That short period of time away from “reality” allowed me to reflect on the importance of simplicity. Simplicity allowed me to relax and taught me to appreciate things in life that are often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of society such as nature. While on Coiba Island, we went snorkeling and hiking everyday and during those excursions I was merely a fly on the wall. If I were to sit still, I could see the sights and sounds of nature moving in circles around me. It was such a humbling feeling that made me realize how small I truly am in terms of nature. More importantly, the natural world is a thing of beauty and needs to be seen and treated as such.