Emily Gabel

So here it is: the end of my beloved summer vacation. As easy as it would be to mumble and grumble about how much it stinks to no longer have my freedom like I have every other summer before, this year it’s not worth it. This year I’m going back with two years of high school under my belt and a summer full of growing behind me. For the first year, going back to school isn’t about a new beginning and expanding out of my boundaries. I already have most of those lessons about being real to myself learned thanks to this summer. This year is about making the most of my last few years at home and loving every minute of it.

I started the summer expecting to learn things and to grow as a person, and I did, just not in a way that I expected. This was going to be my summer of firsts, and it was. This was the summer of my first car, my first flight, and my first taste of real freedom. It has been full of new people, places, and experiences. This summer I learned the beauty of butterflies in my stomach and the magic of a summer’s night sky. I learned the beauty of another country and the value of home. I also discovered that miracles happen from unexpected heartaches.

This summer taught me to cherish every moment with someone because we’re not guaranteed another. This is a lesson that I was first introduced to in April when a close friend from middle school was killed at 16 in a car wreck.

It was the first time I faced the reality that my friends and I aren’t too young for tragedy. The thought of just how fragile this life really is was something that changed the way I’ve seen things every day since.

This month I received another phone call informing me that a close friend had been in a car accident. Thankfully this time he had survived with barely a scratch on him and was calling me himself. A few days after the accident I had the privilege to see him goofing off like nothing happened. As I was giving him a hug goodbye before heading home I realized something that I will never forget no matter how old I am. His accident showed me the beauty of second chances whether it’s the opportunity to live another day or something as simple as forgiving someone for their past mistakes.

This summer was all about taking a shot and trying something new for once. I tried some new foods and made some new friends. I took a chance and got close to people like I never had before. I discovered pieces of myself and shared them with others around me. I stopped worrying about how others saw me and instead focused on how I saw myself. Looking back on it, I couldn’t be happier.

Emily Gabel is a junior at Fairhope High. Her e-mail address is efgabel@gmail.com