This summer, students spent their time catching up on sleep, binging shows, and hanging out with all their friends, while others caught flights and packed for fun adventures in far off destinations. From exploring the world to family vacations, students at Seminole high school (SHS) have found plenty of ways to enjoy their time away from school.

For many students, summer break was an opportunity for them to travel to explore this vast world and experience something new. These trips were more than just sightseeing, they were about discovering new locations and understanding how big the world really is outside of their hometown. Traveling a good 3,000 miles away, IB Junior Aashni Popli took a trip to Seattle, Washington, and then another 140 miles to Vancouver, Canada. She recalls that there she “was able to go on many hikes, and even got to experience seeing snow!” Living down South in Florida, snow is not something we get to see with this humid climate, even hiking is uneventful with such flat terrain, so being able to see snow, even during summer, and hiking up tall mountains must have made her summer travels truly unforgettable. While on these trips, you can admire work in a museum, walk down a busy street in another city, or even try local dishes. It is these little moments that happen when traveling that turn into memories that will stick with us forever.

Other students decided to use this summer as a chance to visit their loved ones who live far away and don’t typically get the opportunity to see them during the school year. To some, that means going out of state, heading overseas, or simply going on a road trip for a few hours to reconnect with cousins and grandparents. These trips weren’t about experiencing something new, but about strengthening connections with people who are dearest to them through shared meals, family traditions, and long conversations. It seems that Canada was a popular destination this summer. A junior in Health Academy, Caris Li-Ravinder, says, “I went to Canada this summer to visit my family and it was such a lovely experience. We never had time during the school year to leave town and just spend time with them during the school year, so it was nice to just relax and be with my loved ones.” For students like her who might not see their relatives often, the time spent with those they love the most can be just as memorable as a crazy vacation spot.

Summer is so important when you see how much of an impact traveling has on students.These trips can expand people’s perspectives allowing them to better understand others and the world. While spending time with loved ones can help students emotionally and mentally prepare for the challenges of the upcoming school year, traveling to new places might spark their interest in geography, history, or culture. Both forms of travel influence students’ approaches to their education in different ways, providing them with new viewpoints, stories, and a sense of balance that textbooks may not offer.

Now back in school, these summer’s adventures are not forgotten by our students. These experiences  remind them that learning does not only take place at a desk, but it can take place with family, on the road, and during the special moments that happen on trips. Even though the vacation is officially over, the memories and stories carry over into the school year, providing us with something to cheer ourselves up on stressful mornings and maybe even something to look forward to next break.