Erik Paulsen: “Last year, 16-year-old Julia Ruelle of Minnetonka, Minnesota, started having headaches and exhaustion. A sophomore at…”

“Last year, 16-year-old Julia Ruelle of Minnetonka, Minnesota, started having headaches and exhaustion. A sophomore at Minnetonka High School, she was diagnosed with a very rare brain tumor. Julia grew up loving the outdoors, and as she began her treatment, she would often think about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area where her family vacationed for years. Today, Julia is recovering and is back to outdoor physical activity. She recently won an essay contest on why the Boundary Waters are so important and why it matters to her--winning a prize of a parent-free weekend canoeing in the Boundary Waters wilderness. Julia, looking strong and healthy, just visited my office last month to advocate for protecting the Boundary Waters. She is a brave girl, and she is a perfect example of what this national treasure means to Minnesota and what it means to our country. I include in the Record a copy of her essay. 2018 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Essay Contest (Winning Essay by Julia Ruelle, Minnetonka, Minn.) It's the start of the school year: everyone is sullen for being forced to sit still all day and teachers try in vain to pull us out of our school-induced slumber with a myriad of get-to-know-you activities. As I fill out yet another form with questions I am tired of answering, I come to the question asking me to list my favorite activities.…”