Introduction to Salem Fleming

A skink I caught in the bathroom at scout camp. He bit me, but it didn't hurt at all. A baby corn snake in my yard recently. I moved him to the woods so my cats wouldn't bother him. A frog I found in the preserve at Catawba. He blended in with the tree bark very well.

It's definitely my favorite kind of weather. I like how mysterious and soft it makes the world look.

  One of my cats whom I have a love hate relationship with. She is cute though.

      I have been going to the same Lutheran church every Sunday since I was born. I know everyone in the congregation quite well and grew up with the kids there. I served as acolyte, who lights the candles at the alter, for a long time. I also helped run the audio systems which records each service and manages which mic is on at any given time. I occasionally join the choir singing hymns, but I don't enjoy that as much and prefer to sing in the crowd. My church has felt like my second family who I can get advice from and count on to support me both emotionally and financially. It's such a loving environment that I have missed being involved in since Covid-19 started and summer and college and all the other obligations I have.       I enjoy Chapel Scholars and I'm very glad I joined and am a part of ministry on campus.  I feel like college is the perfect place to explore my spirituality and learn about other religions and beliefs.

      I've never been a big fan of shopping or name brand clothes. I was more interested in playing in the woods, so as long as I could climb trees I didn't care. My mom bought my clothes and picked out my outfits for a long time. She has good fashion sense and I don't put much thought into what I wear most of the time anyway. As long as I'm comfortable it doesn't affect me dramatically, but I'm realizing I also need to feel confident with my personal style and put effort into how I appear to others.  I want to change my style up, but I have so many clothes that don't fit the aesthetic I'm going for so I would need to buy a whole new wardrobe. I like earth-tones and modest clothing that is artistic and interesting. I don't know where to shop for an outfit that looks handmade without making it myself. I'll just have to learn to sew.

      This is a sport I was exposed to when I was quite young. My mom started skiing when she was a teenager and introduced my dad to it after they started dating. They both really enjoyed taking a trip in the winter months to ski and eventually my sister and I were old enough to try it out. At first it wasn't fun at all because we kept falling over and we got cold and frustrated. The next couple times we actually started to get the hang of it and had fun.      We don't get to ski every year because it can get expensive to rent the gear and buy a lift ticket for the slope.  Every time we do go I end up spending the entire day skiing and only stop to refuel with food and water. I would like to say I've gotten pretty good at skiing. I even taught my younger cousin how to ski when he went with us one time. My favorite part is being at the top of the mountain and getting to look out over the snowy landscape. It's very peaceful. I never want to leave.