This summer has been a whirlwind!  Actually “whirlwind” is an understatement, more of a typhoon.  Kidding, but not kidding.  In addition to my internship with the South Carolina Department of Resources (which is in Columbia, South Carolina-a 1.5 hour drive each way from my home), I had a summer travel schedule for softball that traversed the United States.   And as luck would have it, my internship almost exactly overlapped my tournament schedule for softball, with summer ball ending about 1.5 weeks after my 7-week internship was completed; almost 9 weeks total.  

My internship with SC DNR was in Monday-Thursday 9:00am to 4:30pm (in Columbia), and Fridays consisted of remote work (blogging, research, etc.) + a little weekend work.  On top of that, we had softball tournaments which largely required Thursday day or evening travel to spend the weekend playing ball only to return home late Sunday night, grab some sleep and hop in the car back to Columbia first thing Monday morning.  In addition, I was writing college essays, blogging and coordinating the Sage Project’s elementary educational outreach with the Catawba Nation in my “spare” time. 

Softball took us to Gainesville, Florida then Kansas City, Missouri then Arlington, Virgina then Denver, Colorado and finally Chino Hills, California. Whew!  I’m tired just typing about it!

As crazy busy as it was, it has been an awesome summer.  I learned so much during my internship at SC DNR, about archeology, anthropology and also just the rich legacy of land trust and cultural preservation in South Carolina.  I also met some new friends, and I was able to interact with mentors and tribal leaders in new environments. 

 As for my softball journey, I played some great softball, had some fun adventures with my parents, have the expected crazy travel stories, and experienced areas of our country that I had never visited.  I also was privileged to see and spend time with extended family at every stop from Virgina to California in unique and special ways.  

In some ways, I am relieved to have all the rush behind me and in others, I am sad it is over.  Now it is time focus on completing college applications, returning to my regular volunteer work and beginning my Senior year of high school.

“Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans” -Allen Saunders via Readers Digest, 1957