Eleanor Parsinen:
From the beaches of Florida to the peaceful ambiance of Lake Michigan, this summer was full of unforgettable experiences and new friendships that I’ll cherish for the years to come.
Before I could vacation anywhere, I attended the summer CARE classes at Benet. The classes helped with my understanding of myBenet and other common technologies used at Benet. The week-long course also gave me opportunities to meet new people that I still keep in touch with now.
Next, my family took a vacation to Naples, Florida for the Fourth of July. On Independence Day, we ran a 5k and watched the fireworks off the Olde Naples pier. The heat was brutal; nevertheless, that did not stop us from going to the beach, playing tennis, or spending a few hours in the pool. From Naples, we drove a few hours to Orlando where we stayed at Disney for a few nights. We stayed at the Beach Club, and we went to all four parks. Some of my favorite rides were The Tower of Terror, which is a drop-style ride inspired by The Twilight Zone, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind which is a roller coaster. What makes Guardians of the Galaxy unique from all of the other roller coasters is that a different song plays each time you go on the coaster. The element of having a surprise song each time sparks a sense of curiosity that makes you want to ride the coaster again and again.
To end the summer, I went to my friend’s lake house in Michigan City, Indiana. We spent the daytime in the water, and ended our nights with bonfires and s’mores. When we were in the lake, we paddle boarded, went kayaking, and crashed in the waves when they swelled. My favorite part of the trip was when we took a short drive up to New Buffalo, Michigan. We stopped in many stores, including the Stray Dog, and Oink’s famous ice cream shop. Because of all the new friends and spending time with the old ones, and trips to Florida with my family, this summer will be one of the most memorable; therefore, I am beyond grateful for all of the experiences that I was able to have and treasure for the rest of my life.
Lauren Khazen:
Khazen’s most cherished memories from this summer include: hanging out with friends and making new ones before high school started. Some of her favorite hang-outs included going to the mall, and watching fireworks on the 4th of July. In June, Lauren headed to Ohio for a softball tournament; not only did she have loads of fun playing with her team, she was also able to go to Cedar Point when her games were over. Lauren quotes, “I don’t really like any of the big roller coasters, so my favorite was Corkscrew.” For those of you who may not know, the Corkscrew is a high-speed, turbulent, looping roller coaster that is one of the most popular at Cedar Point. Towards the end of the summer, she attended Loras All Sports Camp in Dubuque, Iowa. She selected hiking/ziplining, volleyball, and swimming as her sports for the week-long program. Unexpectedly, she met a few people who would also be attending Benet as freshmen in the fall. Lauren says that she wishes she could go back, yet it is not possible to attend the camp due to her age; however, she would be interested in counseling in the future. Although there were moments of boredom, Lauren says that this was one of her favorite summers. These adventures not only brought new friends and unforgettable memories, but they also left her excited for a new chapter of her life in high school.
John Pogue:
Pogue, a junior, says that some of his favorite memories this summer were from when his Boy Scout group went to the Boundary Waters. The Boundary Waters is a wilderness that spans the United States-Canada border from northeastern Minnesota to La Verendrye and Quetico Provincial parks in Canada. While John was there, his troop canoed the remote and peaceful waters. During the week-long trip, John saw an abundance of wildlife including black bear, deer, beaver, and otter. Throughout the summer, John participated in summer running with Mr.Renicker. During the fall, John participates in Boy’s Cross Country, so he had to be prepared for the upcoming season. Despite the brutal heat, those in Cross Country had to run up to 9 miles some days. For the rest of the summer, John spent his time hanging out with friends at their houses or somewhere to eat. All in all, John had a busy, yet rewarding summer filled with exploration, hard work, and time well spent with friends.
Even though all of the summers were unique, they shared a common thread of friendship, growth, and adventure. Everybody did different things, yet each person made the most of their time before the new school year started.