Making a Good First Impression

            As a wise person once said: “You never get a second chance at a first impression.” Most of us are well aware of this in a person-to-person context. It is always a good idea to present the best image of yourself when meeting new people. Whether it is for a job interview, your first day in class, a big presentation, introducing yourself to your partner’s parents, or any other interaction, we want to be respected and appreciated for what we have to offer.

When you think about it, this quote can also apply to our view of places or objects. Is there a restaurant you will never visit again because of a bad experience? Do you hate woolen sweaters because of that time your mom forced you to wear one for the holiday photo? How many things do we avoid, or have subconscious aversion to, due to a bad impression? Of course, this kind of bias can be well-deserved or unfounded based on circumstances. I feel that this can also apply to our outdoor recreational experiences.

Think for a minute about your favorite outdoor activity. Why is it something you enjoy? Can you remember the first time you did it? Is it something you still do frequently, and why or why not?

For an example, let’s say the activity is camping. This could be one person’s favorite thing to do because it is a family tradition. They would go every summer to a secluded spot and spend several days having fun and connecting. They have fond memories of these first times and use that as their baseline on which to plan all future camping excursions. On the other hand, another person might hate camping because the first time they went was on a school trip, the weather was rainy the whole weekend, they stumbled into a wasp nest, and their clothes got muddy and ruined. Of course, those events were essentially out of this person’s control, and are not likely to happen again with proper planning and preparation, but they will probably never even try to go camping again in their life, for fear that a similar experience will occur.

My favorite thing to do is hiking, but it is sometimes difficult for me, and I’m sure many other people, to branch out and find new trails to go on. I am worried that the experience won’t live up to preconceived expectations of how it should go, or sometimes the unfamiliarity of the location is a deterrent as well. I tend to find one trail that is suitable and go there almost exclusively; there is comfort in the familiar. You can learn where the best views are, how to get to the restrooms (if there are any), where to rest, and which paths to take to maximize your experience.

Last week, I went for the first time to Konza Prairie Biological Station. It was a place I had always heard about, from the sign on 177 highway into Manhattan and from my fellow students at K-State, but I was never really sure about how to get there, what it would be like, and why I should want to go there-“Isn’t it just a bunch of grass? I can see that from my car as I drive through most of the state.” But it was a nice day for December, about 58-60 degrees, the sun was shining, and I needed (not wanted) to get out of my apartment for a while. Typing in the name ‘Konza Prairie’ in my phone’s maps app readily yielded the location I needed to travel to in order to reach the trailhead.

Checked off: “How do I get there?” Easy enough.

Next, when I arrived, there were several other cars, obviously this was a popular idea. Who wouldn’t want to take advantage of the nice day? I walked over to the information booth. I always like to check over things that are posted. What are the rules? Is there a map? I got pretty much what I expected, but I was surprised to find a sign-in sheet under a protective cover. I gladly added my name, the date, and ‘First Visit!’ in the comment area. No going back now. This information, as well as a research presentation given earlier in the week by a fellow student, helped to answer my second question of “What will it be like?”

I started off down the trail, taking left turns at any intersection. This led me up, up, and up the hill to an overlook area where you could stand and see for probably miles across a vast sea of waving golden grasses and the occasional clump of trees along the creek at the bottom of the hill. As I continued, I began to berate myself for forgetting to bring any kind of water source. Luckily it was not too hot, but it is always a good idea to bring water when you are doing any kind of outdoor exercise. This was soon overshadowed by my experience of the surrounding landscape. I was really more impressed than I thought I would be. As a rule I prefer hiking in forests or mountain areas, but the view of the wide-open prairie on a backdrop of bright blue sky was slowly winning me over.

As I turned downhill to begin the return section of the loop I was on, I took a moment to reflect on the purpose of having these undeveloped spaces available for people to use. Historical perspective was the first thing that came to mind. When you walk through the prairie, you really can’t help but wonder what things were like for those pioneers that crossed areas like this for months on their journey westward. A biological perspective is also a given, just going off of the name of the place. It was interesting to see (but not walk up to) the places where research was being done or data was being collected. Of course, from an anthrocentric point of view, we can give reasons of mental and physical health as evidence to support the need for these unspoiled areas of natural beauty and adventure. This type of immersive experience is something you can’t get from just driving past in your car.

I am happy to say that my first visit to Konza Prairie Biological Station was a very pleasant experience, and I am definitely adding it to my list of local places to go hiking. It was a great first impression! I can’t wait to see what changes the seasons will have on the park landscape, and I hope that the next time I go, I will get to see a bison.