Arriving in North Carolina was like a breath of fresh air. I found my dream college, I faced fears, and I felt reunited with family. Between the terrene turf, the cool breeze that elevated leaves, and the broad daylight that highlighted the horizon, I was set in an atmosphere beyond my imagination.
In the past, my family and I would only visit for my older sister. She has lived in North Carolina for a couple years now, so we try to visit her as much as we can. Besides visiting her, I had also hoped to visit certain cities in the area (that I hadn’t seen yet) and tour the neighboring colleges in those cities.
The drive to Durham was a lengthy twelve hours. My family ventured through South Carolina, and Georgia. On the way, sightseeing monuments and major colleges through the view of the car windows. My entire trip circulated around nights in the city, fun adventures, and college visits.
My college visits were vital as I am aspiring to study in North Carolina. The state has the perfect balance of urban modernity and rural charm, which comforted me and gave me a sense of freedom. The spontaneity of the trip allowed me to develop my own healthy habits. I ate clean, built a workout system, and devoted separate time towards school work completion and study. I felt independent in this state, having the days to myself to spend time as I pleased.
In my leisure time, I toured the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). Although I drove around North Carolina State (NCSU) and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), I was not able to visit them. I still observed the campuses as best as I could from afar.
My favorite campus was UNC. When we reached the bell tower, I quickly fell in love. The campus has the most perfect balance of prestige with a cozy twist, which is what I look for in a university. Beyond ambience, UNC’s students are all very competitive in academics. Their efforts push me to become as successful as every other student here. From the food courts, to the courtyard, to the sports facilities, I could quickly visualize UNC becoming the home for me. That’s why I’ll go the extra mile to ensure I get in.
Aside from the college hunt, my sister, brother, and I did inflatable obstacle courses on water. Splashes, slips, and slides consumed my afternoon. Towards the end of it, my brother and I got to jump off the cliff into the lake, which I am proud to say was one of my most impactful experiences on this trip. I had never done it before and my heart was full of adrenaline afterwards. I went to sleep that night empowered, knowing I conquered that.
After the trip I got to work. I studied, ran, remained physically active and productive. The one aspect that will always remain the highlight of my summer is this trip. It was beyond memorable and I can’t wait to make more memories in the future.
