Summer break can be a time of relaxation or an opportunity to explore new things. Students from Nixa High School stepped out of their comfort zone over the summer to find their next level of self-realization.
Going the extra mile to try new things could mean overcoming one’s fears.
“This is the first year I’m starting to actually drive,” junior Kathleen Voges said.“There are a lot of instances where people try to pull out in front of me and I got really scared driving all the way to California with my dad. That’s a 20-hour drive.”
Being a new driver on the road can be scary, but practice can lead to improvement.
“I came back and I was like ‘dang I’m ready to go!’,” Voges said. “ What’s funny is that I still don’t have my license, I’m in the process of that.”
Becoming a licensed driver was not the only thing Voges worked towards this summer.
“I’ve been a lot more honest with people around me and also myself,” Voges said. “You want to be able to be truthful and honest and open. Starting from being honest with people and moving to yourself was a huge revolutionary thing for me this summer.”
While some students learned new skills over the summer others found summer jobs. Senior at NHS, David Tanona, had a job for the first time at the Springfield Harter House this summer.
“I think I had a negative attitude last year,” Tanona said. “I wasn’t as open, I was meaner.”
Working with his colleagues changed the way Tanona carries out his everyday duties.
“I watch how they work and then I copy them,” Tanona said. “They showed me work experience and how they do things differently than I do on different tasks.”
Part of Tanona’s job experience has to do with interacting with customers.
“It’s like a different kind of conversation with customers,” Tanona said. “Depending what you’re working as, you kind of have to talk to them like your friends with them.”
Communicating with new people can be a good opportunity for self-actualization. Junior Kyleigh Gierer attended Green Leadership Academy for a Diverse Ecosystem (GLADE), a conservation camp in Joplin.
“I met a lot of people I probably would of never met before,” Gierer said. “I’ve always had a passion for the environment but actually doing it really pushed me to want to go into environmental science.”
Staying optimistic about frightening challenges can show self-improvement.
“Being able to think positively as well as changing your mindset is huge when it comes to doing new things,” Gierer said.
Nerves can get in the way of opportunities, but Gierer said that her concerns did not stop her.
“I was anxious about GLADE at first but I quickly got over it,” Gierer said. “Being able to adapt is something I’ve overcome this summer.”