Everyone may have slightly different reasons why they love summer so much. While being a student, summer gets especially exciting because after a full school year of hard work and busyness now you can finally have free time, relax, and travel! Every summer growing up my family would fly to Michigan where my moms side is from and stay anywhere from 1 week to a month. I would stay at my grandma's condo and spend so much time with uncles, aunts, and family friends. Michigan is very different from Florida so traveling there for the summer seemed like life got to slow down a bit and I could do what makes me happy. The memories of Michigan reminds me of the good old days of my younger childhood. Parts of Michigan that I always looked forward to were going to lake Michigan, going into the cute town, getting "flurries" (ice cream), and hiking etc... As I graduate high school there won't be as much time during the summer and life craziness will kick in meaning I won't be going to Michigan as much, but I will always remember the joy that comes with Michigan memories.
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One of my favorite ways to travel by far are going on cruises! I have grown up on the water and has always loved boats and the ocean. I am lucky enough to have been blessed to be able to go on so many cruises with my family. When I was little I went on 3 different cruises over the years. My sister and I made a record of eating 14 ice cream cones while on a 3 day cruise. Then the COVID pandemic hit and I hadn't been on a cruise in years. However, this past summer in 2023 I went on an Alaskan cruise and traveled to many different cities in Alaska. Finally, most recently I went on a 4 day cruise through Royal Caribbean to the Bahamas with friends and family. My favorite things about cruises are the feeling of freedom, being able to do whatever you want, getting involved with the activities, meeting new people, and enjoying all the food! Every cruise is different because each ship is built differently and has different events. You can choose where you want to go and if you want to go on excursions. I also have stayed in an inside room before where there are no windows and they are smaller rooms. I have also stayed in a window room where you can see the water. Cruises have balcony rooms and also luxurious private suits.
One topic from today’s class discussion was whether a woman should make sacrifices for her family. My thoughts on this response would be that I agree they should. I personally believe that in a marriage both husband and wife need to sacrifice certain things for each other and that they each have their own roles in the relationships. I think this is the same when it comes to the topic of children. Women have special roles when the topic of family is up for discussion because they are the ones who childbear themselves and will physically and mentally need to make specific sacrifices for the children. I think women should make the sacrifice of time, whether that's from work or hobbies or some part of their social life. Spending time with family/children is so important for a healthy relationship. The same is true for the husband, I think it is vital, as well, for the husband to make sure there is intentional time spent with the family because time with children is necessary to nurture them. However, the wife will most likely be spending more time with the child for feeding, for example, it will cause more pressure for the husband to be making a living and remain at work. My initial perspective on the first clips of A Doll’s House is that I felt they presented traditional marriage values. The husband seemed weird in that he seemed overly controlling and I don’t think that is how a marriage should be.
Have you ever seen snow? Do you remember what it feels like? Everyone imagines snow feeling and looking differently than it actually does before they actually experience it for the first time. At least maybe someone from Florida who hasn't grown up living in it would. I can tell you the first time I saw snow it was not what I was expecting. This makes sense because I was pretty young at about 8 years old. I had seen movies and pictures, but did not account for the fact that it would be so wet due to the fact that it is literally frozen, half melted water. Never the less, I loved it! I was able to enjoy the new discovery and experience with my sister who was 2 years older than me. My family traveled to Big Sky, Wyoming. I made snowmen, had snow ball fights, made snow angels, went sledding, and even tried to eat the snow. I was lucky to be in an area and a time of the year where there was fresh snowfall every night. My family stayed in a family friend's house where they lived permanently and it was amazing! Overall, I rate this trip a 9.5/10 and will always remember vivid memories I made.
This spring break I had 10 days off of school. My family consists of my mom, dad, and older sister... I also have a half brother and a sister in law who lives in North Carolina. My family decided to fly up to Charlotte, North Carolina and drive our way up to their cabin in a small town called Linville. This trip consisted of snowboarding, hiking, trying new foods, family time, and relaxing. We could have done this a couple different ways. We were initially thinking of making the entire trip a road trip where we would all ride in one car stopping at different spots with different family and friends throughout Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. This would have taken an immensely longer. For some, this is a great idea, however, for others, sticking a family in a car for hours on end usually doesn't end well. Instead, we decided to fly to a major airport in North Carolina and go on a mini road trip of our own throughout North Carolina for a couple days saying at an Airbnb then staying with my brother and his wife. I rate this trip personally a 7/10.
Traveling for the sole purpose of serving others and helping another community is a completely different type of traveling. Over the years of high school and middle school I have gone on 2 main missions trips. The first was to the Bahamas when I was in 8th grade. The second was to Mexico when I was in 11th grade. Both of these trips were intended to do the same thing but were very different. Both, however, were very different than whenever I have traveled with my family for fun. Even though these mission trips were fun they were not pleasure trips. When I served in the Bahamas and Mexico it entailed longer bus rides after the flight to more rural areas with poverty. These trips were nonstop and I often needed to carry extra food and clothes on me because we would be out on the mission field all day. These trips allowed me to stop thinking about myself but how I can help other people. I am so grateful for these experiences because they were eye opening and allowed me to stop taking so many things in my life for granted. Another reason these trips were so impactful was because of the connection I felt with God during the duration of the trips.
It has been a top item on my bucket list for a while to go to New York City. Finally, this past Christmas my mom and dad planned a short trip to the "Big Apple." My dad needed to go for business so we made a trip out of it and it was definitely one to remember! We flew there and stayed in a hotel right in the city. I remember this trip being action packed and it was during the perfect Christmas time, in early to mid December. We rode a ferry and saw the Statue of Liberty, biked through Central Park, walked the city, saw the Rockettes and Times Square, shopped, and enjoyed tons of NYC food. This was my first trip with just my mom and dad because I am normally always with my older sister. The weather was beautiful for the majority of the trip because it wasn't too cold yet, but the wind kicked up a notch on the last day. We walked pretty much everywhere so we got to see a lot, however, we were exhausted and at the end of the day we walked over 25,000 steps. I tried New York pizza, a hot dog from a street cart, a bagel from a famous shop, a fancy restaurant, and amazing banana pudding from a well known bakery. Lastly, I got to see the Rockefeller center Christmas Tree. The city was packed with people and filled with tourists. I rate this trip a 9/10.
When it comes to the topic of travel everyone has a different experience and perspective of it. Many people grow up traveling as a family, many people don't have the financial stability for it, many people travel in different ways and distances. As the start of 2024 begins I want to explain my view on traveling, where I've traveled to, and tips and tricks. As I grow up and start to live on my own I want to make it my goal to travel more and see the world in God's creation. I also wouldn't be against going on a solo trip to get myself out of my comfort zone and learn more about myself! With this in mind and my upcoming graduation I have been thinking a lot about studying abroad for a semester. Places that I had considered to study abroad for a semester were Italy, Spain, or England. I feel like traveling is important to experience other peoples cultures and understand how other parts of the world operate and live like.
It is almost 2024! This year, personally, has flown by faster than what feels like a blink of an eye. Most people use the new year as a way to set goals and start new. They use the new year as a starting point but then New Year's day comes and it doesn't last or they wait another week to start. The most important step to reach your goals is just to start! That's the hardest part and most people will wait to start until they get through the weekend or the vacation or the holiday. Every step counts and the smallest steps are the ones that count. Building small habits that become second nature are the ones that last. Going into the new year knowing that you are trying to put work into yourself and investing time and hard work in order to become a better person proves that you are willing to show up for yourself. Going into this new year I want to set goals to improve all areas of my life including mental and physical. I want to aim to drinking a gallon of water a day and try to move my body in some way almost everyday. Setting realistic, timed, and measurable goals will set you up for success in the new year!It is so much easier to accomplish your goals when you have someone to do it with or keep you accountable. If you are feeling like you are failing it is easy to want to give up because you aren't seeing the progress you want or it is harder than you thought. However, having anyone to hold you accountable and be a part of your journey can make the process a lot easier. Other people may have a different perspective than you and as a friend can see what might benefit you the most. Having someone cheer you on can encourage you and keep you going. Constructive criticism is also super important to something that you need to hear when you need it most. Admitting out loud to someone else that you are quitting is a lot harder than giving up when no one is watching. Lastly, having friends or partners that share the same interest and drive as you can make the process fun and enjoyable. In the long run the only things that are sustainable that will make you see the most progress and happiest is what you look forward to doing. Compromise is everything. |
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May 2024
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