Three long bike rides

I did not know Ben for very long, but I was able to make a few memories with him.

We took three long bike rides together during the first half of the fall semester. Two of them were along the Delaware Raritan Canal, and one of them was at Allaire State Park. Our first ride along the canal was the most adventurous, but our last ride together -- the one at Allaire State Park -- was my personal favorite.

We had close to two hours in the car together, and we were talking and laughing about things like school, family and more. We rode our bikes directly east to the beach in Manasquan and hung out on the beach for 10-15 minutes breathing in fresh air, enjoying the peacefulness of the ocean sounds, watching people go surfing. The weather was beautiful that day and it was so relaxing. We went out for pizza afterwards, and Ben insisted on buying me lunch and would not take any money of mine. We continued our easy-going conversation and enjoyed good pizza. Lastly, we stopped at the outlet mall on the way back for shoe shopping. Ben tried to help me find a pair of shoes I liked, and I tried to do the same for him. I had such a nice day unwinding, getting fresh air, and having great conversations.

Every encounter/experience I had with Ben, he always wanted to go out of his way to help me and put a smile on my face. When I told him I was having a tough day, he would always offer to listen and provide me with a space to vent. I did not know Ben for very long, but I was very fortunate to get to know him and make a few memories with him. I want him to know that his support and enthusiasm helped make my first half of the semester a much more positive one.

Adam Starr