You will never know what you are missing out on until you find out! What is more is that, if you are afraid that experiencing new ideas or cultures will change you in ways you do not want, do not worry! You go to school to grow stronger in your values and decision making processes; when you experience new things, you are always able to decide if you want to make those things part of you life, or leave them behind.
The final thing I want to emphasize is the importance of practicing adventure. What do I mean by that? Well, what I’ve learned since graduating highschool is that travel does not have to be in a place across the world or even far from home. Adventure is a mindset—one that can be employed anywhere you go. In fact, now is a great time to start making a “Bucket List” to have and to add to for the rest of your life. (Question for everyone in class: have you ever heard of a Bucket List?) This list is composed of a bunch of life experiences you want to do before you die. Some people have “visit Paris,” while others have “eat a whole pizza by myself.” Making a Bucket List is a great way to reflect on what you want to do, who you want to be, and what your interests are!
Another great thing to do before you graduate high school is to see a bit more of Oklahoma. There is a whole universe of possibility awaiting you outside of Kingfisher! My top recommendations are 1) Turner Falls 2) Beaver’s Bend Nature Park, 3) Quartz Mountain in Lone Wolf, 4) the OKC National Memorial Museum, and 5) the Oklahoma City Zoo. Have you ever visited any of these places? These experiences are not too expensive (some are even free admission) that are also wonderful ways to learn about Oklahoma and practice going on adventures.
