(17, NV, USA) Anonymous - My First Beach Trip

When I was a kid, my Dad took me to the beach for the first time. I had always dreamed of going to one ever since I saw a Barbie movie in which she was a surfer and became a mermaid because of her being half-mermaid. I promise the story was much more cohesive when you watched the actual movie; however, you get the point. Once we got to the beach, I was afraid of the water. Every time it would almost touch me, I’d coil back and run in a frenzy of excited giggles. I loved the water when I was smaller, but going in it was a different story entirely. My father noticed my nervousness and held me tightly against his chest, then entered the water. He took me out to a patch of water that was up to my neck and his chest. I started to panic, but as I panicked, he held me closer and told me there was nothing to be afraid of. “It’s just a bit of water,” he reassured me. We began to take deep breaths together, and he lifted me up towards the sky. I laughed joyfully as he dipped me into the water and lifted me back out again with a cheer. I must have screamed so loudly that day; everyone was gathered around, laughing at me having the time of my life. I wouldn’t have ever done it without him. I still thank my Dad for that experience to this day.