Odysseus's Reflective Essay-Personal Narrative

I was anchored. My boat rocked slightly from side to side, the waves shifted, but my feet were firm with my anchor rigidly planted in the ocean floor.
I had discovered who I was, and it was exactly who I aspired to be: a girl with authority and the title to prove it. I was one of three freshman representatives of the Student Board, the prestigious and sought-after body of student government. The entire year I held onto that identity and knew it was only a matter of time before my incumbency kicked in and I would begin anew with my sophomore term.
But the seas had other plans.
The gentle lapping waves suddenly turned violent, churning up against my boat. Election day came. I sat anxiously at my computer, propelling myself into insanity waiting for the results. Refresh. Wind whirred in my ears. Refresh. My stomach delved into knots. Refresh. A
Though shaken by defeat and plagued with sea legs, I sailed on. I was Odysseus on his epic journey. I battled monsters; I struck down ego and pride into humility. I discovered new lands; I poured myself into show choir and dedicated myself to the Sundae Wednesday service project. I learned about the world; I immersed myself in the Dominican Republic and experienced a new kind of compassion. Leaving my anchor behind initially felt as though I had lost my identity. In reality, what I thought had kept me grounded in who I was in fact kept me from discovering who I was meant to be.
Sophomore and junior year I sailed the world, discovering pieces of myself along the journey. With newfound wisdom, I returned to where I had previously anchored myself: Student Board. It looked the same as when I had left it, but I was a new sailor, a seasoned one. My experiences on the seas seemed monumental compared to the ones I had while anchored in this spot. That sophomore storm was no longer a hurricane, but a rain shower; that denial email was no longer a burden, but a