2007 Scholarship Winners

Puffins

 - by Tessa Isis-Bahoosh

On my twelfth birthday, my family and I decided that there could be no better way to celebrate than to spend the day enjoying the salty air and beautiful sights that are the guarantee of a whale watch, even if you fail to sight any actual whales.

We had done so several times before, and would continue to do so afterwards, but this one stands out particularly clearly in my mind, and for more reasons than the fact that it was my birthday.

We boarded the boat, lugging along with us ample birthday food supplies, and settled down to the long wait that lay ahead of us to reach the whales, and due to our choice of time, the puffins’ island.

Eventually we reached the meeting place of whales, and indeed we saw some great, magnificent creatures of unending elegance--but my favorite surprise was yet to come.

We had done many things that day; walked around Bar Harbor, hung out in bookstores (a favorite pastime of mine) picnicked, and more, but when I think back to that day, one thing comes to mind.

I have always been attracted to lighthouses—I cannot explain why. So I was already excited to be going to the island with the lighthouse where the puffins live (the island has a long name that eludes me for the moment).

I hadn’t given much thought to puffins themselves. But when we arrived there, the birds took center stage.

As I have said, this was not the only time I have gone on a whale watch. And yet, I have not yet re-encountered that singular sight of spectacularity. The island was absolutely packed with puffins.

There is no way to convey such an image to one who has never seen it: the entire boat seemed in awe.

Thousands of birds flying, chirping, fishing, all with the air of being so in the moment and glad for life that I found myself wishing I was more like them.

A year later, and it’s still the only time I wished to be more than human.

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