I shuffled past the turnstiles, and started to make my way to the underwater tunnels. Once I stepped inside, I couldn't help but hold my breathe from sheer wonder. What a sight it was to behold— a softly curving tunnel of glass through which I could see, for lack of better word, everything. Schools of fish swimming across the waters above my head. Jellyfish whose stingers flow like a mermaid's hair. Majestically hued parrot fish, in all their rainbow glory. A family of seahorses, with the baby seahorse dancing around its parents.

The floor reflected dancing light from the moving waters. The tunnel itself was slightly chilly and dimly lit, the only other thing illuminating the area coming from sparkling rope lights lining the edges of the deep blue floor. The crowed has mostly thinned out now, and only a handful of families and couples litter the tunnel. What usually was a place filled with screaming children and conversation was now a quiet observatory where I could wallow in peace and marine life.

I start to make my way through the winding path, now and then taking time to stop and admire the marine life thriving over my head. A school of herring darted past me. I couldn't help but let out a sigh. At least the herring belonged somewhere.

"Look over there, it's a lot of fish!" A young boy tugs on his mother's arm and points at the herrings I saw. "I learned yesterday that fish swim in schools to find food!"

I continued to listen as the young boy goes on explaining what science class has taught him. I decided not to correct him that he defined shoaling, a different behavior displayed by fish because who am I to spoil his joy? I need not victimize people due to my misery.

University life sucks. Even if everyone is there to pursue a passion, discrimination still exists within the ranks of students. I'd like to see moving into the big city and getting an education as something to be proud of, but my social life has been abysmal. I'm not smart enough for the smart kids. I'm not cool enough for the cool kids. I'm not ordinary enough to blend with the crowd. I stick out like a sore thumb.

I'm just a regular marine biology student in a big university. I love studying water animals. And apparently, that makes me unapproachable.  A lone surgeonfish stares at me. "You'll find your school too someday," I can imagine it say. I smiled, giving the glass a light tap.

"Do you think I'll find a group I'd belong to like the herrings?" I ask.

The surgeonfish's stare bores into my soul, its little fins moving slightly from the current.

I sigh. "I just want to belong, sir surgeonfish. Don't you want to as well?"

Dang, I must be going crazy— talking to a creature that looks like it came from Finding Nemo. I stare at it for a while longer. I wonder if its aquatic mind can understand my sentiments. I did my best impression of an elderly hermit fish character. "It's our nature to swim in groups. I'll be fine. We all belong somewhere."

I resume speaking with my normal voice. "You're right. I am the master of my domain, for fate is unknowable. Eventually, we will both find a school to belong to. Thank you, wise elder."

I shuffled past the turnstiles, and started to make my way to the underwater tunnels. Once I stepped inside, I couldn't help but hold my breathe from sheer wonder. What a sight it was to behold— a softly curving tunnel of glass through which I could see, for lack of better word, everything. Schools of fish swimming across the waters above my head. Jellyfish whose stingers flow like a mermaid's hair. Majestically hued parrot fish, in all their rainbow glory. A family of seahorses, with the baby seahorse dancing around its parents.

The floor reflected dancing light from the moving waters. The tunnel itself was slightly chilly and dimly lit, the only other thing illuminating the area coming from sparkling rope lights lining the edges of the deep blue floor. The crowed has mostly thinned out now, and only a handful of families and couples litter the tunnel. What usually was a place filled with screaming children and conversation was now a quiet observatory where I could wallow in peace and marine life.

I start to make my way through the winding path, now and then taking time to stop and admire the marine life thriving over my head. A school of herring darted past me. I couldn't help but let out a sigh. At least the herring belonged somewhere.

"Look over there, it's a lot of fish!" A young boy tugs on his mother's arm and points at the herrings I saw. "I learned yesterday that fish swim in schools to find food!"

I continued to listen as the young boy goes on explaining what science class has taught him. I decided not to correct him that he defined shoaling, a different behavior displayed by fish because who am I to spoil his joy? I need not victimize people due to my misery.

University life sucks. Even if everyone is there to pursue a passion, discrimination still exists within the ranks of students. I'd like to see moving into the big city and getting an education as something to be proud of, but my social life has been abysmal. I'm not smart enough for the smart kids. I'm not cool enough for the cool kids. I'm not ordinary enough to blend with the crowd. I stick out like a sore thumb.

I'm just a regular marine biology student in a big university. I love studying water animals. And apparently, that makes me unapproachable.  A lone surgeonfish stares at me. "You'll find your school too someday," I can imagine it say. I smiled, giving the glass a light tap.

"Do you think I'll find a group I'd belong to like the herrings?" I ask.

The surgeonfish's stare bores into my soul, its little fins moving slightly from the current.

I sigh. "I just want to belong, sir surgeonfish. Don't you want to as well?"

Dang, I must be going crazy— talking to a creature that looks like it came from Finding Nemo. I stare at it for a while longer. I wonder if its aquatic mind can understand my sentiments. I did my best impression of an elderly hermit fish character. "It's our nature to swim in groups. I'll be fine. We all belong somewhere."

I resume speaking with my normal voice. "You're right. I am the master of my domain, for fate is unknowable. Eventually, we will both find a school to belong to. Thank you, wise elder."