Have you ever looked at Potter’s Pond and thought, what could possibly live in there? That is my first question whenever I am on Jig Pat. I can’t imagine the amount of trash, sports equipment, and candy wrappers that go in there annually. It is also a seemingly isolated source that harbors murky, shallow waters. Both of these factors make it pretty safe to assume that maybe this wouldn’t be the best place for marine life to call home. But then I see them: the fishers.
From the months of March to May, eager fishers line the pond and wait in silence. Patience is the art of fishing, of course. They’re fishing for something that I didn’t even know could be in this pond. Where do these fish come from, if they even exist? I’ve never seen one caught and suspect that the fish are figments of their imagination. What confuses me more is that their determination never wanes, even after countless attempts. Taft’s love for fishing was reinforced by Taft Fishing Club. I now understand that they take excursions to other bodies of water, and while I’m sure that’s worked out, I can’t imagine that club meetings at our home pond end in much success.
The closest I came to glimpsing these elusive fish was my freshman year, when one of my classmates yelled something nondescript while fishing on a hot spring day. A group of five or six boys, all lining the pond with their beefed-up fishing rods that were severely overqualified for this, gathered around him and a small object he was clutching. Trying to get a good look at what was going on, I looked up from my phone. Figuring they had caught something, I alerted my friends because even I, a freshman, knew that this was a rare occurrence. Despite not being able to actually see the mysterious item, I inferred that the fish was either dead or not a fish at all because thirty seconds later, the circle of eager fishers sighed and returned to their spots. I have heard many stories of fish being caught. But until I see one for myself, the fish of Potter’s Pond seem more like a fairytale than a reality.
As you can tell from the first half of this article, it’s easy to critique the Taft fishers. On the surface, the activity seems to require a high commitment level for a low reward. However, I think the fishers are actually the embodiment of an ideal Taft student. Most days during the spring, hot or cold, rain or shine, they are determined to catch a fish. Even though, to my knowledge, that rarely happens. Determination in the face of hardship is a quality that will help us all throughout life, and the fishers seem to naturally possess this quality. I personally can’t imagine coming back every day to fish, even with this low rate of success. We can all learn something from their patience and optimism while out on the pond.
Though you might not think about the Taft fishers every day, or at all, next time you pass Potter’s Pond, look out for them. Admire their determination and patience (or see if they caught a fish) and apply this to your everyday routine. When academics, sports, or life in general gets hard, and you are repeatedly not getting a desired outcome from your hard work, think of our student body’s most determined club. One day, you might catch your fish.
Photo courtesy of The Taft School
