Day after day, year after year, the one thing that both students and teachers alike most look forward to is Summer. Is the weather? The style? The ability to stay in bed until noon without a care in the world? That’s what I’m here to find out. I’ve taken it upon myself to inquire with a few of Mountain Ridge’s iconic students and teachers about their plans for the Summer and what really makes it so exciting.
Personally, I’d say sleeping in is what I look forward to most. What can I say? I love my sleep. Well, when I actually do sleep, that is. There’s just something about not having a set time to wake up, about being able to sleep until your heart is content and not having to wake up at five in the morning day after day. Sure, the weather’s nice too, I suppose— but in Arizona? You can really never tell.
When queried about her favorite summer activity, Emily Nkiinzi said, “I think the thing I’d most like to do this summer is learn choreo. I enjoy learning choreography to… really any song I want to! It’s always fun to dance, and when Summer comes around, I’ll be able to do it a lot more.” Though I prefer singing, I have to agree; dancing is always fun, especially if it’s to a song you really like. Emily is an incredibly skilled dancer on the Mountain Ridge team, and with this response? That’s clearly not just for show.
Another Ridge student by the name of Ashley Jacobsen said that she was most excited for her planned trips. How could I possibly forget vacation? It is nearly Summer after all. She said she was going to visit Montana and various other states whose names I can’t recall. I myself will be venturing out to Washington State to see family, so I can definitely understand the excitement. On a similar note, MRHS journalism and film teacher, Mr. Matthew Jones, said that his most exciting adventure this Summer will be a district-funded professional development trip to Burbank, California, where he will get to be on the set of a real movie, explore Hollywood, and laze around at the beach.
With great distance comes great responsibility. I asked my sister and fellow Ridge student, Laila Atwell, what she was excited for, and her response was near immediate: “I’m excited to go see Keira.” Keira is her best friend who, in the last two years, moved away to Kentucky. They’ve been best friends since kindergarten, and since they moved, one of them has gone on a quick vacation to the other’s state in order to…. Honestly, avoid separation anxiety.
With Summer slowly paving its way back into our lives, so is the heat. So, I’ll leave you with this. Regardless of what you decide to do this Summer, whether it’s swimming, or hanging out in a parking lot with your friends— remember to drink water. We are in Arizona, after all. Oh, and one more thing, have fun.
