The summer before my senior year consisted of two weeks camping in the woods of Northern California. I had never been camping for a night, let alone two weeks, but I wanted to challenge myself as I prepared to enter the next chapter of my life: college. I envisioned a stereotypical summer camp experience filled with life-long friends, inside jokes and memories to last a lifetime. The reality of this trip was not such.

Some of the highlights of my trip were: a raccoon that wanted to cuddle in my sleeping bag; crippling homesickness; a stomach bug that swept the camp; sleeping next to pungent porta-potties; a wildfire breaking out at our campsite the day after we left; ants eating all of our snacks; the air conditioning on our van breaking right before our four hour drive in 100℉ conditions.

While this was undoubtedly not the trip I envisioned, I learned how to cope with the unexpected and embrace it. I struggled for the first week of the trip, adapting to life without my loved ones from home and with minimal connection to the outside world. I thought hard about leaving camp and going home. But in the end, I decided to stay for the duration of the trip and I learned the importance of adjusting to and appreciating the unknown. By the end of my time camping, I had visited one of the country’s most beautiful national parks (Yosemite!!!), gone white water rafting for the first time, conquered my fear of cowboy camping (sleeping outside without a tent), met amazing friends and made lasting memories. 

As I approach graduation, I can’t help but think of how many experiences I would’ve missed out on if I hadn’t learned to accept the unknown. My parting words as the class of 2025 prepares for this milestone is not to fear embracing the unknown, because you never know what awaits you.