Most people that know me know that I worked in Mackinaw City this summer for Mackinac State Historic Parks. That was one of the best choices that I ever could have made for myself. I learned so much about myself and about who I am and who I want to be. The best thing about working away from home and campus was the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the country.

I worked very closely with people that are history majors, which was a different experience for me as I am a social work major. Some of the best things about working in Mackinaw City this summer was the view of the bridge every day, My co-workers, and the experience. I have never had an experience like that before. I have never lived more than an hour away from my parents, and this summer I was four hours away and could not expect my parents to come up for every little issue I had. I had to learn how to handle a lot more things on my own this summer instead of calling my parents and having them take care of it for me.

I have learned so much from this experience. I learned how to deal with people, and I have learned more about the history of Europe and the Mackinac Straits area. I, for the first time in my life, worked in the most beautiful place I could have ever thought to spend for four months. I got to do all the things that tourists want to do in a two-day visit in a four-month time span. I loved my job and the people that I lived with. I always had someone to go downtown with and I always had someone that would go on an adventure with me.

This summer I learned that I really enjoy history and to learn how things came to be the way they are today. I learned that you can visit a historical site several times and still not see everything until the seventh or eighth time that you visit. Every time I went into the sites, I had new questions and learned new things.

If you ever get the chance to work or live in the area, take full advantage of it and go see every tourist must see thing at least once. It will give you the experience of a lifetime and tons of stories to tell your children and grandchildren. This summer taught me that life is too short to sit inside and watch Netflix all day every day, and that you should get out and do things while you are young.