With only 93 days of summer, how do we spend it? Some people squander their time sleeping through the days, others work diligently to complete summer assignments, while some travel from one place to the next with hardly any free time in between. I sympathize with the people who fall into the last category. In just 2232 hours: I spent a week in Missouri, a week at a UNT tennis camp, a week at FFA state convention, a week at a camp in Colorado, a week in Waco TX, a weekend in Amarillo, a weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, a weekend in Houston, managed to finish my summer assignments, planned five birthday parties, adopted two puppies, adopted two goats, finished unpacking our house, and babysat for my parents. It may seem that all of that time provides enough to get everything done, however it stretched me further than anticipated.

The beginning of my summer consisted of a hodgepodge of summer camps. UNT tennis camp, Sky Ranch Camp, and the State FFA Convention. UNT not only gave me insight to college life, but also expanded my knowledge and improved my playing skills in tennis. I met many people who made the experience memorable, however my next camp probably affected my life the most. The Christian camp, Sky Ranch, originates in Van, Texas and offers a wide array of fun activities in which kids can participate. Teenagers entering their sophomore year of high school receive the unique opportunity to travel with others in the same age group to Horn Creek, Colorado, where another Sky Ranch camp is located in the mountains. From long bus rides to tribal competitions, crazy events to deep Bible studies and midnight dances to campfire songs, relationships grew and strengthened. Forty-nine other sophomores attended Sky Ranch Colorado and on the last day of camp, I walked out with forty-nine new lifelong friends. The entire week and a half surrounded us with a healthy, inspiring and Christian atmosphere. I learned so much about developing my faith and growing in my leadership skills. No matter the distance, the group of individuals who gifted me with the experience of a lifetime and touched me in unexplainable ways preside in my heart.

Lastly, I attended the 89th Annual State FFA convention which doesn’t sound like a summer camp initially however, the steps taken to improve the leadership skills in all who attended provided an environment similar to a camp. During the last week of July, nine FFA members from Decatur, Texas got to travel to Corpus Christi. Many of us attended State Convention for the first time and we hope for the opportunity to return. The FFA has introduced lots of new concepts and skills but for the first time, State Convention allowed me to put these skills into action. The biggest responsibility of representing Decatur as a voting delegate resides in the duty to change the laws of the State FFA Constitution. Participation in such a momentous occasion really changed my outlook on the organization as a whole. All in all, I gained a lot including knowledge and leadership through everyone of these camps.

Family vacations are typically the symbol of love and togetherness, but how many people actually believe this? The values listed above represent morals of a good family relationship however, when contained in a small place for a long time, peace and love never enter our minds.

Staying at home differs greatly from having free time. Just because your feet reside in your household, doesn’t mean your summer is full of peace and relaxation. While at home, I spent several weeks stressing and slaving over summer assignments, while trying to accomplish other chores at the same time. Eventually, I reached my goal and on the first day of school, turned in a completed assignment. One summer assignment presents enough challenges for all 2232 hours, but apparently my mother didn’t agree. My mother’s personality exhibits creativity and spontaneous actions. On the first day of summer, my siblings and I came home to a surprise. My mother decided to give us a summer assignment of her own. After listening to different musical selections, she asked us to create a character based on the tune. Then we made that character into a paper mache mask, either depicting the actual face or just a mask that the character might wear. Furthermore, to accompany the mask we wrote a short story and script which we then performed in front of the family. An enjoyable project, if I possessed a free summer, however this only added to the stress making up most of my life. Seven people make a large family, but now my pets attempt to break the record. In the beginning of the summer, my family and I started out with two cats, one dog, and one goat. Over time, we adopted two more puppies and two more goats.

All summer I longed to complain about my booked summer, however my other family members experienced the same predicament. My parents traveled almost as much as I did. The only problem of so much travel, resulted in hiring me as the “official babysitter” when at all possible. Whenever my mother went to train the Eagle Dolls or my father stayed late at work, leadership fell upon me. At the time, all the responsibility soured my mood, however each skill gained from watching my siblings, affected my life positively, helping my personal pursuit of leadership.

No matter how someone spends summer, this small relief from school provides necessary skills and experiences that build young minds. Summer allows people to learn through tangible events and imaginative ideas. Quality family time builds bonds to last a lifetime and helps leadership, compassion and communication skills. Freedom from forced learning opens the gateway to ingenuity. School does provide needed information for success in this world, however summer offers a wider range of opportunities and experiences. Summer may only last 2,232 hours, but students quickly learn that every second counts.