My friends and I spent endless hours swimming in the Swannanoa river, picnicking nearby, and hiking the River Trail. Although my daily routine changed drastically from one year, or even one semester, to the next, and my social circles would expand and change, the river was a constant for me. It became a sanctuary of sorts when I needed to get away from the hustle and bustle, sit in silence by myself, think through a significant event or transition in my life, or find a rock where I could sit and play my guitar.