{"id":56044,"date":"2026-08-03T20:45:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/?page_id=56044"},"modified":"2026-08-03T21:01:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T21:01:50","slug":"stepup-student-blog-fishing-between-accomplishments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/stepup-program-student-stories-and-voices\/student-blog\/stepup-student-blog-fishing-between-accomplishments\/","title":{"rendered":"Fishing Between Accomplishments"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-56044\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-56044-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-56044-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-56044-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-56044-0-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>StepUP\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 June 2026<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_56045\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-56045\" style=\"width: 1025px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56045 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos.png\" alt=\"Title image reading StepUP Student Blog time!! The background image is of the StepUP scholars at a gameshow room holding up trophies.\" width=\"1025\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos.png 1025w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-768x575.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1025px) 100vw, 1025px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-56045\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Our monthly blog is a student-run platform that allows different scholars within the StepUP program to share their personal experiences with the greater community. Everything written, designed and curated was by StepUP students! Delivered straight to your inbox every first week of the month.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-56057 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-1-e1785185298306.png\" alt=\"Graphic of a yellow and blue flag banner.\" width=\"1025\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-1-e1785185298306.png 1025w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-1-e1785185298306-300x56.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-1-e1785185298306-768x142.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1025px) 100vw, 1025px\" \/><\/a>Event UPdates!<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>StepUP Graduation:<\/strong> Congrats to all the amazing scholars, we are so happy for you!! &lt;3<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sober SOFTBALL!:<\/strong> Every Friday we play different teams. Right now, we\u2019re tied for 2nd in the league!!\ud83e\udd14<\/li>\n<li><strong>29th annual Recovery in The Park!!:<\/strong> This event we host and invite Minnesota sober high schools as a way to have a day of connection, advocacy and fun! This year\u2019s volleyball tournament was pretty lit (we lost very badly against the high schoolers).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adopt A Highway:<\/strong> One of my (Elizabeth) favorite service commitments \ud83d\ude42<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-56061\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-3.png\" alt=\"Group photo of StepUP's sober softball team on a field with matching maroon jerseys.\" width=\"1025\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-3.png 1025w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-3-768x575.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1025px) 100vw, 1025px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-56083 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-5-e1785188083397.png\" alt=\"First photo is a StepUP scholar posing in front of the StepUP Adopt a Highway sign. He is holding a large bag of litter. Second photo is of stepUPP scholars playing volleyball outside.\" width=\"1025\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-5-e1785188083397.png 1025w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-5-e1785188083397-300x148.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-5-e1785188083397-768x378.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1025px) 100vw, 1025px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-56087\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-6.png\" alt=\"Graphic of balloons \" width=\"434\" height=\"244\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-7.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-56088 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-7.png\" alt=\"Blog author and StepUP scholar BJ posing for a photo\" width=\"478\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-7.png 800w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-7-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-7-768x576.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 478px) 100vw, 478px\" \/><\/a>Blog by BJ<\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Written May 8th, 2026<\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Hey everyone, I\u2019m BJ and I have been in Step-Up since 2023. I figured I would write a little bit about fishing because it has become a pretty important part of my life and sobriety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Fishing has always been a big part of who I am. I grew up in Northern Minnesota, and if you are from the north woods up there, fishing\/hunting is just part of life. Some people golf, and some do other things, but for me, I would rather grab a rod and head toward the water. Even now, living down in the cities while going to college, I still find ways to stay connected to that part of myself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Sometimes I head down to Bohemian Flats because it is just a short trip from campus. Other times I head up toward North Mississippi Regional Park and fish the river up there. One thing about Minnesota is that even in the middle of the city, you are never too far from water. You can still find quiet spots where things slow down for a while.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>This winter I went ice fishing up on Red Lake with a bunch of people in recovery. We camped out on the ice for three days and caught a pile of walleye. Sitting out there in the middle of winter with good people, cold air, heaters running, and lines in the water was one of those memories that sticks with you. I also love trout fishing down at Whitewater State Park. There is just something peaceful about standing in moving water surrounded by bluffs and woods that resets my brain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>I like all kinds of fishing. Walleye fishing over rock beds with a Lindy rig and a leech or a big worm is hard to beat, especially when you pull dinner up from the bottom of the lake. I love throwing topwater lures for bass too. There is nothing quiet about a bass smashing a lure off the surface of the Mississippi. One second everything is calm, then the fight is on. I like northern and crappie too, especially when the weather is cold.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>A big part of sobriety for me is learning how to have fun in between the accomplishments. Fishing gives me that. It gets me outside, away from the noise and stress of the normal day. Sometimes I go alone because it becomes almost meditative for me. It gives me time to think, breathe, and reconnect with myself. Other times I bring people with me because some of the best conversations happen sitting next to the water waiting for a bite. Either way, it keeps me grounded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>I think growing up in Minnesota shaped that part of me. Up north in the country it's common to spend most of our time outdoors. You learn early that nature can calm you down and clear your head. Even now, no matter how busy life gets, I still feel most like myself standing near the water with a fishing rod in my hand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>One thing I have learned in recovery is that you do not always have to do things alone. Fishing is one of those hobbies where there is always room for one more person. If somebody wants to come along, I am usually open to it. Whether we catch fish or not, it is still time well spent.<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-8.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-56093 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-8.png\" alt=\"Graphic of three yellow stars\" width=\"600\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-8.png 600w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-8-300x100.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a>Q &amp; A with Olivia and Mitch<\/h3>\n<h4>What are your summer plans?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-56092 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-9.png\" alt=\"Graphic of a sun smiling \" width=\"190\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-9.png 600w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-9-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-9-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" \/><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Mitch:<\/strong> \u201cI\u2019m moving and starting my new job this summer. I want to<br \/>\ntake a trip to Arizona to climb a mountain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olivia:<\/strong> \u201cto work on radical acceptance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-56091\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-10.png\" alt=\"Picture of two strawberries\" width=\"178\" height=\"178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-10.png 600w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-10-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-10-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>What's your favorite fruit?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Mitch:<\/strong> \u201cMy favorite fruit is strawberries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Olivia:<\/strong> \u201cKiwis!!\u201d<a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-11.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-56090 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-11.png\" alt=\"Multi-color flag banner\" width=\"500\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-11.png 500w, https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/108\/2026\/07\/For-Website-Blog-Photos-11-300x90.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Wow... absolutely fascinating. THANK YOU TO BJ, OLIVIA, MITCH AND ALL OF YOU! HAPPY JUNE!<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>StepUP\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":655,"featured_media":0,"parent":56216,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-56044","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/655"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56044"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56044\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56302,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56044\/revisions\/56302"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/56216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/college-recovery-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}