Reconnecting with Henniker

Being forced to leave New Hampshire prematurely took away part of my happiness. For most, Henniker is just where school is. For me, it’s where I found myself. I have been able to learn from so many incredible professors, met my best friends, and had the opportunity to play the sport that I love with an amazing team here. Henniker is much more than a college town; it is a place where I found peace and support groups. Every street tells a story and leads to places I can call home.

Connecticut is where my family is from but I have never felt complete living there. I was able to make friends growing up within the public school system and playing sports, but these relationships didn’t last after high school. At first we would keep in touch, but then slowly went our separate ways. Nowadays, Connecticut is more like isolation than home. I feel trapped and unhappy most of the time.

Henniker is the light at the end of the tunnel.

For these past three years, this town has guided me to happier days. I’ve met so many people who have positively impacted my life in ways that I could have never imagined. Without this institution, I would not have met some of the most important people in my life. I’ve discovered that I would have never been taken out of the darkness if it wasn’t for this small town. 

There have been many great days I shared with Henni; but there have also been plenty of horrific nights. I have some great memories of late night walks around town, photoshoots with my friends, and study halls with my team. Even if I have gotten myself into some trouble with HPD, it’s just another thing to add to the list. I might not be able to brag about some, but each memory is something I will hold dear to me, even if Henniker fell off the face of the Earth.

To reconnect with the state of New Hampshire, a small group of my five friends, including myself, took a hike up Pat’s Peak. Keeping social distancing in mind, this seemed to be our best option to spend time together. Participating in the long quarantines showed me how quickly I got myself into shape in the beginning of summer and how quickly I got out of shape as it came to a halt.

For a small mountain, Pat’s Peak sure as hell kicked my ass on the way up. I pushed through all of the calf cramps and dangerous rocks because the view is always worth it. 

The ski lifts gently sway in the wind and create the most calming atmosphere. Their baby blue color almost always matches the blue above them. On this day, the clouds looked as if they were handcrafted and painted on the sky. They were oval shaped and their edges trailed off, giving them a similar look to smoke. It was as if the sky was sketched just for us.

In the far distance, foggy outlines of another mountain started to come through. The ground radiated green while some of the tree’s leaves had small speckles of yellow.

The view from the top is always beautiful.

Mesmerized by the landscape, I remembered why this town will always have such a special place in my heart. Because it’s so small, some people can’t find Henniker’s true beauty. For me, it isn’t hard at all. Personally, I never needed to hike the Peak to see its potential. The difference between Connecticut and New Hampshire is that I feel more at peace here. My light is brighter than ever, and the flame will continue to glow.