Winding Down

On May 16th, my school's senior project board presentations were held and I gave my presentation for the final time. It wasn't nerve-wracking at all, actually! I'd written out my script the night before and memorized it in no time, then practiced in the morning and on the way. I was so much more prepared the second time around!

I walked in wearing my scuba gear over a sundress and Hawaiian shirt, and told them all about how I came up with the project idea, how I carried it out, my successes and failures, research I'd done, my final product, learning stretches, and many other topics! It was natural standing there speaking in front of Mr. Brauch (my three-year math teacher) and four other women also very interested in outdoor adventuring - two of the judges had also dove before too! It was a perfect set up!

All in all, I'm very fortunate to have had the experience of senior project. I got closer to my mentor on a somewhat professional level, I learned a brand new skill, and I am very happy with how things turned out!

Now that senior project is over, however, I'm going to discontinue focusing this blog primarily around the underwater world. There's an entire unexplored earth right at our fingertips, and diving isn't exactly the easiest or most accessible sport in Cincinnati! On June 1st at 5:00 Eastern time, a small group of me and my friends will leave for a backpacking trip out west in California where we'll be spending 18 days camping in Yosemite, the Redwoods, Sequoia, Gold Bluffs beach, Lake Tahoe, Zion, the Arches, and many many other locations. Roughing it will bring us all infinitely closer together, and we'll see parts of the country we've never imagined going to on our own. It's going to be the adventure of a lifetime, and I'm ready to tackle it full force.

Look out world, I'm coming for ya!(:

Instructor Tribute: Twink Miller

I learned all I know about diving from the beautiful and intelligent Twila (Twink) Miller. As owner of the Lima, Ohio Long Lake Scuba Diving quarry and a professionally certified diving teacher with over 5000 completed dives, I have the utmost respect for her. I wouldn't have wanted another teacher and I'm so incredibly thankful my mentor set me up with her! Thanks for all you've done Twink!

Life Update

My final day of "class" was yesterday. My senior day of reflection was today. Tomorrow, I'll be presenting my senior project for the final time. These past four years have flown by - so much has happened, and I'm so thankful for all the experiences I've had in this time. In two weeks exactly, I will be a high school graduate... Where has the time gone?!

I'm actually incredibly thankful for the senior project. It was nowhere near as dreadful as past seniors made it sound - all except for the research paper I literally almost died because of - and I gained a fantastic new knowledge of the ocean and skills because of it. It has opened my mind and expanded my horizons, opening up a whole new realm of possible career choices and personal interests. Though it was tough to get into the freezing cold water, a little pricey to carry out, and time consuming, I am grateful for the experience of senior project and I'm glad to have participated. 

Song #7 - Temples

I'm falling hard for this psychedelic rock band. Thought someone else might enjoy them too (:

Thoughts

Once this senior project shebang is finally done and dealt with, I'm going to continue to keep this blog up and running. There's so much to see in the world above the water, and the day after I graduate I'm going to go see just another small slice of it! Me and a pack of 5 friends are trekking out west for senior trip where we'll be camping for 18 days at Gold Bluffs, Lake Tahoe, the Redwoods, Sequoia, and Yosemite - just to name a few locations where we'll be!

Giant Redwood trees in Redwoods National Park, CA

There's a world that was meant for us to see, and I'm gonna go find it for myself.