Mt. Ararat Students Reflect on Harpswell

As they prepare to leave for college in the fall of 2026, graduating Mt. Ararat High School seniors Savannah Gates and Katherine Kelly reflect on the deep connection they share with Harpswell. For both students, growing up along the coast has made the sea an essential part of their lives—shaping their memories, perspectives, and sense of home.

by Katherine Kelly

I live a busy life. I fill my days with schoolwork, extracurriculars, volunteering, working, and my hobbies. I love being as involved as I am; however, sometimes I need a break. So when life grows too loud, I go to the ocean. Growing up, I’ve always felt connected to the water; I spent many of my childhood years swimming, kayaking, and sailing for sailboat rides with my family. And while those exciting years are treasured memories for me, my relationship with the ocean has matured since then. As I have gotten older, it has become harder for me to break away from the bustle of my everyday life. It can feel impossible to schedule time for myself. The beautiful thing about the ocean is that it is always there for you, whether you need a minute or an hour of peace, no appointment required. No matter what challenges I face in life, I can always go sit on a barnacle-covered rock and listen to the sound of the waves. When the roaring fills my ears, I can let go of the stressors in my life. I become grounded in the world around me, being able to exist simply as I am without the weight of external pressures. This spiritual release is a magic that only Harpswell holds for me. The ocean is my looking glass, providing clarity for my mind. Without the “salty rock coasts” that we used to sing about in elementary school, I would not be the thoughtful young woman that I am today. The Harpswell ocean has helped me balance the chaos of my life and discover my inner tranquility. It has taught me so much about myself and how to balance my needs with the needs of others. I know that next year and even ten years from now, I will always be able to come back to Harpswell and let the ocean carry all of my worries away.

by Savannah Gates

Having lived in Harpswell my entire life, I’ve loved the water for as long as I’ve been conscious, the passion shaded by my experience growing up on, around, and in the Atlantic. My love for Harpswell grew over the past summer when I became employed as a deckhand on the schooner *ALERT* and learned more about my community along the way, immersing myself in the working waterfront. I got to meet hundreds of people who loved Harpswell in some shape or form. It was a tremendously eye-opening experience because I truly gained more of an insight into the Harpswell community. I learned how the wharf at Cook’s smells like fish and brine, the scent eventually becoming a comfort after spending time around it for months; I learned the names of many tourists and locals, all with different stories but all with a love for Harpswell; I gained life advice from every passenger, and figured out some of my career and future goals. I memorized different facts about Harpswell to tell on every trip, from why Halfway Light is called Halfway Light to what the Little Mark Island Monument was used for before GPS existed. A highlight of my experience was having the honor to help set up a marriage proposal on the aforementioned schooner for the fiance of the owner of the Bailey Island General Store, a woman I had met through the Fire and Rescue Association Program provided by the Orr’s & Bailey Islands Fire Department. Overall, this experience has transformed a general love for my hometown into a deep pride to be serving such a dedicated and loving community.