A Lesson from the Trail

BY SEEDRA OTHMAN
FINAL DRAFT AND GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

One summer in Brazil, I decided to join a local hiking club to explore the trails
in my area. It was my first foray into group hiking, and I was eager to meet
new people who shared my love for the outdoors. On the first day, I arrived at
the trailhead and was immediately drawn to a group gathered around a tall,
imposing figure who looked more like a bouncer than a hiker. She had dark
makeup, tattoos covering her arms, and a stern expression that made me
instinctively wary.

"Hey everyone, I'm Josephine," she introduced herself. Her voice was deep,
adding to her intimidating presence. "I'll be leading today's hike."

As we set off, I hung back, feeling uneasy about Josephine. Her brusque
manner and rough exterior made it hard for me to relax and enjoy the hike. I
noticed she didn't engage much in small talk with the group, which only
reinforced my impression that she was unfriendly.

About an hour into the hike, we reached a particularly steep and rocky
section of the trail. As I carefully navigated the rocks, my foot slipped, and I
twisted my ankle badly. Pain shot up my leg, and I winced, trying to steady
myself.

Before I knew it, Josephine was beside me. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, her
voice surprisingly gentle.

"I think I twisted my ankle," I replied, trying to downplay the pain.

Josephine knelt down and examined my ankle with practiced hands. "Looks
like a bad sprain. We need to get you back down to the trailhead."

She called the group to a halt and quickly organized a few people to help me
down the trail. Josephine herself carried my backpack and walked beside me,
offering support and making sure I didn't put too much weight on my injured
ankle. As we made our slow descent, she kept the conversation light, asking
about my interests and sharing stories of her hiking adventures.
By the time we reached the trailhead, my initial impression of Josephine had
completely changed. Her tough exterior masked a kind and caring individual
who was always ready to help others in need. She even drove me to the
nearest urgent care center and waited until I was seen by a doctor.

Over the next few weeks, I continued to hike with the group, and Josephine
and I became good friends. I learned that she worked as a paramedic and had
a passion for helping people, which explained her calm and efficient response
to my injury. Her tattoos, I discovered, were tributes to friends and colleagues
she'd lost over the years.

This experience taught me that first impressions can be deceiving.

Josephine's intimidating appearance had led me to judge her unfairly, but
beneath that exterior was someone with a big heart and a genuine desire to
help others. It was a powerful reminder that you truly can't judge a book by
its cover.
 GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

Introduction

- *Hook:* One summer, I decided to join a local hiking club to explore the trails
in my area.
- *Thesis Statement:* This experience taught me that first impressions can be
deceiving.

Body Paragraph 1: Initial Impression

- *Setting the Scene:* On the first day, I arrived at the trailhead and was
immediately drawn to a group gathered around a tall, imposing figure.
- *Description of Josephine:* She had a shaved head, tattoos covering her
arms, and a stern expression that made me instinctively wary.
- *Initial Reaction:* Her brusque manner and rough exterior made it hard for
me to relax and enjoy the hike.

Body Paragraph 2: The Incident

- *Event:* About an hour into the hike, we reached a particularly steep and
rocky section of the trail.
- *Problem:* As I carefully navigated the rocks, my foot slipped, and I twisted
my ankle badly.
- *Josephine's Response:* Before I knew it, Josephine was beside me. "Hey,
you okay?" she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle.

Body Paragraph 3: Changing Perceptions

- *Josephine’s Help:* Josephine knelt down and examined my ankle with

practiced hands, organizing a few people to help me down the trail.
- *Supportive Actions:* She carried my backpack and walked beside me,
offering support and making sure I didn't put too much weight on my injured
ankle.
- *Conversation:* As we made our slow descent, she kept the conversation
light, asking about my interests and sharing stories of her hiking adventures.

Body Paragraph 4: Realization and Friendship

- *Arrival at the Trailhead:* By the time we reached the trailhead, my initial
impression of Josephine had completely changed.
- *Discovering the Real Josephine:* She drove me to the nearest urgent care
center and waited until I was seen by a doctor.
- *Developing Friendship:* Over the next few months, I continued to hike with
the group, and Josephine and I became good friends.
- *Learning About Her:* I learned that she worked as a paramedic and had a
passion for helping people. Her tattoos were tributes to friends and
colleagues she’d lost over the years.

Conclusion

- *Reflection:* This experience taught me that first impressions can be

deceiving.
- *Restated Thesis:* Josephine's intimidating appearance had led me to judge
her unfairly, but beneath that exterior was someone with a big heart and a
genuine desire to help others.
- *Final Thought:* It was a powerful reminder that you truly can't judge a book
by its cover.