13 is usually the age when you find out who you are. I never really knew, but all I knew was that I was the awkward “nerd” who worked by herself on projects, and was very studious. I didn’t like it, and wanted a clear motivation to help me be more outgoing, and to have the courage to meet new people. I was also very reserved, and didn’t speak very much. Well, until my 13th birthday, that is. That was the day the most noise came out of my vocal chords. I was yelling with joy, for I had just found out that I was going to Disney World, and to see my idol, Winter the dolphin.

Winter is an Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin who at two months lost her end tail flukes and some vertebrae due to a blue crab trap. A dolphin as young as Winter wasn’t supposed to survive that kind of trauma, but Winter had persevered in a way that nobody has ever seen before, and made it through. Winter is now a permanent resident a Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Florida. Many people travel from great distances to see Winter. Amputees, veterans, and everyone in between come to see Winter. If they feel that they’ve given up, they will know Winter’s story, and find it so inspiring, that people that have been sitting in a wheelchair for over a year actually get up and walk because of Winter. I had recently seen Winter’s own movie, Dolphin Tale (my favorite movie now?) and found it very inspiring. Even though her movie made me stand up and cheer, that was nothing compared to meeting the wonderful porpoise.

The day had come, and my family drove for 2 hours from Orlando to Clearwater, and let me tell you that it was a beautiful drive. Before I knew it, I was walking into the place I had only dreamed of going to. I took a deep breath of the humid o2, and knew this would be “perhaps the greatest day of my young life” as I had told my dad earlier. We worked our way up the cement steps, and got to the pools where the dolphins were. I can assure you that these were huge pools. Not tanks. Pools that the dolphins were actually content in. The sun was out that day, and it was a perfect harmony when it hit the water. The aquamarine hue flowed back and forth with the sun beams, and it was like underwater fireworks. Well, underwater fireworks are not possible, but it was a baffling simulation.

Finally. The dolphins had come out for a show with their trainer, and Miss Winter wriggled out of her personal pool into the bigger one with her signature side to side motion. The show was wonderful. I had learned new and interesting facts that “make you sound smart”. The base of the tail (Winter’s tail stump) on a dolphin is called the peduncle. Dolphins actually can only see the color blue, so that’s why the trainers wore a specific hue to get the dolphins attention.

That day had gone by so quick; I hesitated to say my last goodbyes. It was closing time, so I had no choice. “By, Winter!” I said sadly. As a joke, I whistled to Winter, and turned around to leave. I heard a rustle in the water, and didn’t think much of it, until I heard it.

“Tweet, Tweet! Hello? I’m trying to get your attention! TWEET TWEET!!!!!!!!”

Winter had responded to me. Mimicking my…exact… whistle. A few trainers and interns around me had taken notice. To make sure that is wasn’t a coincidence, I whistled again, and Winter looked at me, and whistled. I quickly pulled out my camcorder, and took only 13 seconds of film from our conversation. My camera had died, and that’s my only proof.

We went to the gift shop in the mere minutes before it closed, and I had told the cashier my experience. She was very surprised. “You know…” she began, “Winter will only whistle to certain people or someone she knows and trusts…” I then replied. “This is my first visit! I don’t have a connection to Winter in any way!” “Well, she must like you.” She then replied. As I left, it then hit me: I needed a push in a lot of things. If Winter has inspired people to get out of wheelchairs, then I guess that she must have “known” that I wasn’t quite the social type, and needed a little help. From that moment on, I kept the whistling in my mind, helping me to be a little more outgoing. And sure enough, it worked. I now have more friends, and won’t mind meeting new people. I also love trying new things.

Well, Winter had put on a huge impact on my life, and the way I see things now. That whistle had helped me a lot, and it meant the world to me. I know now that it is very important to persevere, and to not care about what other people think. I had just recently gotten a Dolphin Tale jacket, and there are at least 2 people a day that have to speak their mind about it. In the time that I hadn’t met Winter, I would have taken it home, and literally never wore it again, but I don’t care about what those kids say. I’ll usually think of the whistle, and then say something such as “I don’t care what you think! I know you have your own opinion, but this means something to me, so keep your rude comments to yourself!” When they walk away confused, I smile, and move on with my “Jacket of Victory”

Thanks Winter, and I may see you in 2014 when I go back to Florida!