The Ask
Tell a compelling story to introduce writing skills in a Journalism Writing course. The story must be interesting and allow the reader to feel like they experienced the event.
Progress
While brainstorming for this assignment, I had to think of the most memorable moment that had recently happened. I immediately thought back to my trip abroad and how every moment was something to remember. During the short month I was there I visited Porto Venere, Italy where the rocks were very…slippery. With this thought, I wrote my story!
The Outcome
After writing this story, I realized the love I have for storytelling again. In high school, I had a great interest in writing essays in English class. I am thankful this project brought me back to expressing myself through writing and creating imagery for the reader. I am happy with the outcome of my story and am confident that I accurately conveyed the story in my own words.
Full Story
In my time abroad in Italy this Summer, we took many field trips. This particular trip was to Porto Venere, a village on the north coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Beautiful blue waters, swimmable caves, and rocks where visitors sunbathe with easy access to the sea. Just like the James River, the rocks can be extremely slippery if you catch your step in the wrong place. As you can imagine, I stepped in the wrong place.
My waterproof disposable camera is strung around my wrist and my cell phone is in my hands, I walk down to the edge of the dry rock. Getting as close to the water as possible without stepping too close to the wet rock. My friends ask for candid photos of them in the water, so of course I take them. It is all going well until my camera mysteriously becomes undone from my wrist and flies down the rocks. All logical thoughts had left my brain at this moment. I know the camera is waterproof and I know it will float, but that was not on my mind. My only goal was to save the camera from drowning. All eyes on me, I step forward. Stepped far enough to reach the wet rock, the dangerous wet rock. The erosion has smoothed the rock completely and algae has grown over to create a slippery slope. My left foot slides and the rest of my leg goes with it.
A very ungraceful high kick, my right leg inevitably joins the air shortly after. With my body in the air in what feels like a plank, my only hope is to save the phone that is in my hand. No cares for what happens to my body that is destined to slam back down onto the rocks. Of course, I come down fast to the wet rock and my body slides. Slides all the way into the water of the rushing sea. A wave hit me as I speed-slid into the water. My entire body enters the water with the tightest grip on my phone that you could have. I saved the phone, begging for assistance from my friends. It is impossible to exit the water without getting the phone wet. I have to get someone else to risk their safety to take my phone while I get out. Once I am out I can safely retrieve the disposable camera and my cell phone.
The next day my body is more sore than a day back at the gym after months of not working out. My buttocks were bruised and achy with cuts all over my body. Still scarred on the knee until this day. A chaotic experience, beware of the dangers of wet rocks.