Growing- Summer 2011

Christina Anthony

                                                            Growing

The average person works forty hours a week. My summer however, not only consisted of the full forty hours a week but also many numerous actives. I learned that my life it what I make it. Making my last summer, of adolescence one of my best beneficial summers I have had.

High school is full of possibilities which lead you to the direction of you future. Summer is for growing and learning about you. Work is a huge part of growing up as well. It teaches you people skill, responsibilities, independence, patients, ect. Working eight hours a day, 5 days a week can be very excusing.   However I took every possibility to take opportunities which would make my summer as lively as it could be. It’s a mental thing. I chose to get off the couch and go paddle boarding, cliff jumping, wakeboarding, tickle berry runs and late night movies. Michael Jackson once said “im happy to be who I am”. I believe that applies to my life. I grew more into myself this summer by experiencing new things.

When you turn sixteen you start to learn how to drive. Your parents always tell you “go the speed limit”, “your taking the corner to fast”, ect. I would have never guessed that eight months later I would be hearing the same old nagging parents, telling all over again.  When you go from driving an automatic to a standard a lot more stress is added. At first it’s like work, tough, having to concentrate on letting the clutch go while applying the right amount of gas. But with every shift I made and every stall it took. I managed to learn how to dive all over again. It’s kind of like life; you start out slow and unsure of things. But with practice you learn and grow making you a better person, or in my case a better driver.

When you come to the edge of a cliff ready to take that leap into the freezing water below or take my brothers dirt bike up the steep embedded bank. That one second of fear rushes away with the pleasure of adrenalin. This summer I took as many chances as I possibly could. I wanted to experience things which are out of the norm. Milking a cow would be one of those out of the ordinary things. The coolest part was doing something which most people never get to do.  Milking a cow is a different experience in general. Shock rushed through your body, when a babe licks you with its rubbery tough.

You start to milk and with the right moves, milk come shooting out into the tin pale below, immediately forcing a smile upon my face. This was another highlight of my summer. 

Forty hours a week may seem like a lot, but learning and maturing makes the work seem minimal. I focused this summer on the good thing and try not the focus on the bad. I had experiences which will last a life time in my memories. And the best part was I got to spend those times with friends and family I love.