In films, the summer before a main character’s senior year is always a wild ride, where they experience new adventures and take on exciting challenges. This summer, I truly embraced happy endings and new beginnings, making the most of my season finale before embarking on the next chapter of my life: college.
For almost two years now, I’ve been a recreational gymnastics coach, helping children develop their athleticism and enhance their intellect. As a coach, I often spend my summers serving as a gymnastics camp counselor for children. Spending time doing arts and crafts, playing games, and enjoying on-site field trips allows me to reminisce on my childhood memories before I end this era of my life and enter a new one.
I dedicated a significant amount of my time to work this summer, taking shifts in camp when I could and covering for others when they were out. Not only do I feel a sense of pride for taking initiative, but working as a recreational gymnastics coach helped enhance my virtues in life: patience, understanding, and authenticity.
For example, this summer, I met two young girls who struggled developmentally. Occasionally, I grew frustrated with them, but they taught me how to manage stressful situations and mediate unfamiliar behaviors. I’ve grown to appreciate every child for their quirks, disabilities, and unique personalities, as assisting them with their struggles allows me to experience new perspectives on life.
I’ve incorporated these values into my favorite part of the day: CrossFit, where I’ve learned a great deal about myself. I find pure joy in high-intensity training, as it has provided me with an outlet to express my competitive nature and engage in intense physical activity to build strength.
To spend my time wisely, at the beginning of the year, I set a goal for myself: to power clean 150 pounds. By the end of summer, I was power cleaning 145 pounds in short complexes, on the verge of accomplishing my goal and setting a higher one.
Spending my time at CrossFit not only strengthened my body but also my friendships. From winning field day together to doing the ‘impossible mile’ filled with running, burpees, bear crawls, and lunges, they’ve shown me what ‘genuine’ truly means.
They’ve blatantly told me when I’m wrong and praised me for when I’m right; they’ve encouraged me to branch out and try new things. Through them, I’ve regained my extroverted spirit, which I am excited to bring with me to college.
When I wasn’t at CrossFit or work, I was in the Keys with my family, wakeboarding until sunset and snorkeling at Sombrero Lighthouse in Marathon.
Since I was little, I’ve always been surrounded by boating. I have countless stories to tell about being on the water, all of them funny, happy, and even scary. I adore the sea, as Mother Nature always blesses me with new adventures whenever I embark on exciting journeys alongside those I love.
This year, we discovered a secluded island with hundreds of shells, where my stepbrother, sister, and I found a collection of queen conch shells; it was truly unforgettable. There’s no feeling as pleasant as when I’m cruising on the boat, awaiting our next quest at sea.
A tremendous highlight of my summer was visiting Universal’s newest theme park: Epic Universe. As an annual pass holder, I visit the parks often; by now, I’ve become an expert in Universal-related matters, having immersed myself in five different realms of fantasy. Although I won’t be going back to Epic any time soon, I look forward to stepping into a new world of adventure during my next visit.
This summer was amazing, providing me with the perfect series finale I had been hoping for. Although I am a little sad to leave summer behind, I am ecstatic to start the next part of my life, and this time I’ll title it “My Adventures in College: A Series of New Beginnings.”
