By: Lucia Gabriel
Many students at Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS) spent their summer vacation with their family, traveling, and partaking in new adventures. Some traveled around states in America, while others explored parts of Europe. Each student ended their summer break with valuable lessons learned and memories made.
Eva Stoleru, a sophomore at PVHS, spent the summer months exploring Europe. While she was in France, she spent most of her time in Paris. She enjoyed being there for the first time because it had always been a childhood dream of hers to visit there. While she was in Paris, she was amazed by the Eiffel Tower and even ate duck for the first time. She also traveled around Romania, and explained that since she speaks Romanian, communication was easier there. However, the language barrier became more apparent in some countries where she did not speak the language. Even though she had visited parts of Europe before, she described this trip as refreshing because she was able to spend time with her family friends and her family. Traveling through many different countries exposed her to a variety of cultures. She went to Greece, Croatia, and Italy. “I learned to take every moment in and to not take advantage of time,” said Stoleru.
“I learned to take every moment in and to not take advantage of time.”
eva stoleru (10)
Jack Feather, a senior at PVHS, traveled to Bar Harbor Island in Maine to go to Acadia National Park. He explained that the most interesting part was hiking a trail that included many ladders and rocks to climb on. He enjoys going on runs while being on vacation because he can explore the different scenes. “A memory I will never forget was running down the Main Street to set a Strava segment record,” said Feather.
However, Feather’s biggest setback was having very limited cell signal. He took this as an opportunity to learn to focus on the nature around him. He said, “The most important lesson I took away was the freedom that not being able to use my phone as much brought. Not having cell signal made it much easier to live in the moment.”
Georgia Trembath, a senior at PVHS, drove to Minnesota with her family to visit her grandparents. She explained that all her family meets there every year, and she was able to experience living in a city and seeing the different houses there. She enjoyed being able to walk everywhere instead of driving, which allowed her to soak up the scenery surrounding her. One of her favorite memories was learning how to slalom water ski with her sister. “I knew that slalom water skiing was hard, but I kept practicing, and I finally got it,” said Trembath.
Georgia went shopping for her senior photos with her mom and grandmother, and saw one of her favorite singers, Noah Kahan, at a concert. A special memory she shared with her mom and grandmother was going shopping for her senior photos. She said, “It was different this year because it may be the last time we get to drive up all together since I won’t be home next year.” This reminded her to enjoy every moment with her family.
Catherine Stoltz, a senior at PVHS, went to the Florida Keys with her family to relax, spend time together, and enjoy the beaches. She appreciated being on the water and seeing the different sea life. “It was surprising how peaceful and beautiful everything was,” said Stoltz, “I will never forget spending time with my family near the water and watching the sunset. It was one of those moments when I could just relax and enjoy being there.” It was different from previous vacations she has been on because it was more about the ocean, nature, and spending time with her family, rather than being busy with activities. “The most important lesson I took away is that it is important to slow down and appreciate the people and places around you. My trip to the keys gave me a chance to relax, make great memories, and enjoy a different side of Florida,” said Stoltz.
Students at PVHS explored different areas while spending time with people they cherish. Throughout all the memories that these students made during the summer, they learned that vacations can offer a break from school and a way to live in the present moment. These moments gave the students something meaningful to take with them into the school year.
Pictured: Eva Stoleru (10) in front of the Eiffel Tower
