As a college student, I only have a few summers left in my life that I will not be tied down to a job. As such, I have been wanting to do exciting things and have exciting memories and stories that will be able to last many summer-less years.

This summer, I spent two months in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. I lived in a hotel along the busiest street in the city with 130 other students I didn’t know. I was pushed towards God, and my faith was tested like never before. I worked full time in a theme park. It was a hard summer. It was the best summer. Last weekend was a reunion where I got to see and hang out with a bunch of people I’d met and become friends with while in the Forge, and it took me back to Tennessee.

This summer was a wild ride, full of unexpected surprises and set-backs. Full of forming friendships, aiming to serve others with a joyful heart while wearing a straw hat, and learning more about the God that I love. Every single second was a new adventure, and a large part of that was because of God and the friends that he sent there with me that summer.

While in Tennessee, God set the groundwork for the trials and lessons I was about to be thrown into this semester. He taught me the importance of trusting Him so that I would know how to give the hardships over to him these days. He showed me how to deal with tricky situations so that I would be able to navigate hard waters now. Most importantly, he gave me great, life-long friends who could encourage me through the rough patches.

Last weekend when many of the people from the program came together in Jacksonville, it was a breath of fresh air. Getting to hug these people that have known me in some dark times, getting to just be with them in person and getting to talk with them in person took me back. It took me back to climbing figurative and literal mountains. It took me back to bear searching. It took me back to early morning quiet times.

It took me back to laughing way past lights out about secret mattress surfing plans. It took me back to sports and Apple Barn runs and carpooling into work together and playing spicy Uno in the lobby. It was such a joy to be able to fall back into place with these friends, as if it was just another night hanging out in the lobby with each other before curfew. We got to reminisce and trade stories about guests of the theme park we all worked at for those two months, and boy are there some wild stories to be heard!

The memories I made in the Forge will stay with me for years to come, and that fact puts a huge smile on my face. It is such a comfort to know that my third to last summer was not a wasted one. I was able to fulfill my desire of having a memorable summer.

I challenge you to go out and find somewhere that will let you do the same! Step outside your comfort zone, try something that maybe scares you. Go somewhere new and learn that way of life. Meet new friends from different walks of life, work at a theme park. Just go out and do something crazy and different that will still have you smiling in remembrance when you’re an actual adult and are wishing for a summer break. Let your summers leave you with memories worth repeating.