Invasion of privacy: the air of Fish
Why, when pondering someone interesting on campus, might you think of Geneseo student Fischer Hicks? In conversation and on paper, Fish is a man with a unique life and respectful demeanor. So, what gives Fish a particular air of fascination?
Fish, who you may see walking around campus sporting his flip flops and long blonde hair, or maybe even his Hello Kitty shirt, is now a freshman here at SUNY Geneseo, studying psychology with a plan to get an adolescent education certificate, allowing him to become a therapist in the future. Fish’s medical background may have propelled him to his interest in helping people, for he claims to have saved ten lives, and plans to join Geneseo’s First Responders group, or the local fire department.
Earlier in his life, Fish faced severe epilepsy. Born originally in Idaho near Yellowstone National Park, Fish and his family packed up the car and left their beautiful home state in search of doctors and hospitals that would relieve Fish from the approximately 25 seizures he experienced a day, for five years. But as the Hicks family drove across the country, the seizures suddenly disappeared. Having already sold their house, Fish, his brothers George and Walter, and his parents decided to stay on the East Coast in Sherrill, New York.
As I learned more and more about Fish, I was still confused about what makes him such a noticeable new face. Maybe it is because he is not afraid of anything, and has no favorite holidays, not even Christmas! Or maybe that he will eat anything (but typically loves spicy food, along with sushi and pasta.) I wondered if there was some enchanting air floating around Fish, captivating others in his company.
Unable to find the true root of his character through observation alone, I simply asked Fish, “Why do you think people find you so interesting?,” to which he responded: “I think that I put on a mask and make sure people think that I’m more confident than I actually am, and I try to act like people are my friend before I actually meet them. So even if I have never met them in my life, I’ll still act like they’re my friend.”
This is a rather admirable and kind stance, especially given how cynical our current social climate can be; most people never get the barriers of simple small talk. Fish is clearly a friendly man with strong care for his family and friends, and even strangers whom he might never see again. Fish plans to study abroad during his time here at Geneseo, with aspirations to teach English in Hong Kong or China, or of deepening his own studies in the United Kingdom.
If you see Fish on campus, do not be afraid to say hello, for I am sure his response will be, “How’s it going?”