David Gessner

I have always loved Henry Thoreau. I wrote a research paper on Walden in high school and ever since then, I have admired his thoughts about nature. One of my favorite quotes is, "I went in to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover I had not lived." Besides Thoreau, I have always enjoyed reading about nature.

I liked hearing Gessner speak and put forth his own ideas about nature and the idea of wildness. Limited wildness is a fascinating idea. I love believing that you can experience wildness even in the middle of a crowded city, or maybe a college campus. It is all about engaging your surroundings and seeking opportunities to appreciate unique aspects of life.

In his This I Believe essay for NPR, he said, "I believe in wildness, both in the natural world and within each of us." This is a quote I want to remember to live by; it is like a modern version of Thoreau's quote and emphasizes the accessibility of wildness within and around us.