The Perspective of a Pearl in an Oyster

by Hayden Lee (United States of America)

I didn't expect to find USA

The life of a high school student tends to be repetitive. You wake up at the same time, see the same people, and have the same classes every day from August to May. Maintaining the same routine is exhausting, so every now and then, I like to go on trips to give myself a well-earned break from my responsibilities as a student. I currently reside in a small farming community in the conservative state of Missouri. The options for vacation spots here are very limited, so in July of 2018, my family and I traveled to Galveston, Texas. This was the very first time that I had visited the ocean. I was disappointed because it wasn't what it appeared like on television. However, this is probably because the beaches in Texas are not the prettiest, compared to the pictures that I have seen of beaches at other destinations across the world. Just because the experience wasn't what I imagined, it was still very magical. I remember gazing into the horizon and watching the world bend in front of my eyes. I have always heard stories from people who had visited the ocean, snippets of conversation about the salty water, and I didn't expect to find that there was truth to the words being said. The water burned my eyes leaving them red and irritated. My adventure brought me from the ocean to the city itself. I have always been under the impression that Texas was a conservative state, alongside Missouri, yet I was proven wrong. I felt very comfortable during my stay, and I enjoyed the energy that resonated with this seaside community. Once again, I didn't expect to find that I would enjoy such a place because all I have ever known is cornfields and cattle. Overall, this trip was very influential for me because it had created a desire to travel. A craving to view different cultures, peoples, and environments. I hope one day I will have the ability to observe the world, for it is an oyster, and I am the pearl.