Ashley Elder, an eighth grade student at Waynesville Middle School, created a phenomenon box about her love of water.

The narrative: I was born on the east coast of Florida in the city of Palm Beach Gardens. My family moved to Waynesville, North Carolina when I was only three years old. The house we used to live in had a creek that ran along the property. My brother and I spent many hours in that frigid water, digging and catching crawfish. Some years later, I joined one of my close friends on her vacation to Lake Hartwell, South Carolina. Playing poker and learning how to water-ski were unforgettable. We lounged on the deck of that lake house, sipping slushies and wishing that time would stop in its tracks. For two weeks out of every year, Daytona Beach is where I escape to paradise. My uncle’s house, only a block away from the ocean, is the perfect place to store our sand dollar collection. When the salty air wafts through the open windows of our Jeep, I know I am truly on summer break. Drifting around in the warm currents of the Atlantic brings me peace and happiness every time I visit my home state. I spend most of my time in chlorine water though, because I am a member of Smoky Mountain Aquatic Club. I love to swim, and I have since I was about five years old. After I dive off the block, it’s just me against the clock. Sound becomes non-existent as liquid fills my ears. Only swimmers can understand the heart pounding moments between the flags and the finish. I am surrounded by water everyday. In fact, the theme of my bedroom is tropical islands. The walls are painted ‘tropical rain’ blue. Also, I can look out my window anytime and see the waterfall in my front yard. The rushing water cascades over massive rocks, then plunges into the creek bed below. Following a torrential rain, sometimes the sound is deafening. It makes me wonder just how much this spectacular force of nature has impacted my life. My phenomenon is water because it has played a role in my upbringing and my connection to it is undeniable. Water has been with me from the beginning and I don’t think it will be leaving anytime soon.