Staff Summers
By Onyinyechi U.
Beach Sunset by Kat Gaskin Created in Canva
Summer can be a fun time of relaxing, traveling, and meeting with friends and family. How did the Navigator staff enjoy the season?
Many enjoyed a cool break at the beach. Mrs. Meyer loved walking along the sand dunes near Lake Michigan and discovering the beautiful rocks along the shore. Zoe B. and her family left their home in Argentina to spend a few weeks in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a popular coastal attraction: “We had a lot of fun relaxing, going to the beach, walking around the city, and more.”
Similarly, Ellie B. headed to the beach, but she also found relaxation at church camp, where she could “[spend] time with my friends and [learn] more about God.” Besides this, she practiced ballet for three weeks in a short program. Like Ellie, Avery P. appreciated a season of beach fun and church activity, saying that “The Lord really worked in my life!”
Alex M. went to Tennessee to visit his grandparents. He loved both their funny stories and their delicious food: “My favorite thing is probably the amazing food that my grandparents make. They make these French Bread Pizzas that are delicious.” Alex did not go on a seashore trip, but he had just as much fun.
A few visited a number of countries this year. Brooklyn C. certainly had a “summer to remember” as she traveled through Asia, meeting with friends in Cambodia, India, and Nepal. Keziah H. not only went on trips to America and Central Europe, but also found excitement in new experiences: “There were a lot of fun firsts that I experienced, including being away from my parents for 2 weeks, flying to another country by myself, and meeting up with some people from NSA for the first time.”
Some staff members did not travel at all this summer. Joseph P. noted that he "mostly stayed at home and enjoyed playing Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 later in the summer." Similarly, Jared L. spent his break resting at home: “When I wasn't finishing up school I was honestly just taking time off and relaxing.”
Others traveled, but not exactly for vacation. Andrew W. and his family went to Georgia to drop off his sister at a gap year program, taking time to visit a few special sites. Jonah S. headed to the U.S. for several weeks to obtain his driver’s license, but he did get the chance to go to the library in his free time. As for me, I enjoyed a brief college-hunting trip to Boston with my mother, where we toured universities, sampled cheesecakes, and explored a historic Catholic church. We spent much of the nine-hour round trip listening to one of our favorite audiobooks.
Whether touring the world or resting at home, finding rocks on the seashore or tasting warm pizza, the Navigator staff found ways to relax this year. We are ready to get back to work!
Columns: 🗞️Staff Stories, 🔎Informational, 👤NSA People
Onyinyechi U. is a senior living in Pennsylvania with her parents and one of her two siblings. This is her fifth year at NSA and her third on the Navigator. In 2025, she made her debut as an author with The Journey, a collection of Christian poems. In her free time, she enjoys listening to classical music.