AJ Minnich
Usually, summer is my least favorite time of the year, especially during my college journey. I’m not a fan of the sweltering weather that leaves me desperately seeking the cold embrace of an air-conditioned building, and I always get a nice kick of seasonal depression that leaves me entirely demotivated. And … this summer was honestly no different, but it was a lot better than most!
I had an awesome opportunity to do a SOAR project, which kept me occupied for most of the summer. My project, advised by Dr. Crystal Fodrey, surrounded rhetoric and video games, and it surprisingly led me down numerous paths that left me both interested and very confused. The project started in the realm of games and rhetoric but varied into the realms of literary analysis, creative nonfiction, political science, education, and philosophy. This project has really opened my eyes to just how interconnected a variety of academic fields are. I would go more in-depth, but I think this is the part where a to-be-continued screen pops up.
Additionally, I once again worked at Reeves Library all summer long. I made new friends, pestered my boss Kris Beutler, read a ton of comics, and more than once almost fell asleep at the circulation desk.
I also went on numerous trips this summer. I went to Ocean City, NJ, with a bunch of friends – we miss you Joel :’( – where we went to the beach (obviously), goofed off on the boardwalk, went to the world’s tiniest toy store, and ate the largest pizza I’ve ever seen in my life. In June, I went to Maryland to watch my 78-year-old grandfather compete in a track meet where he won two gold medals and a silver … man, am I out of shape. I also made the incredibly intelligent decision not to wear sunscreen, so I got burned to a crisp and looked like Mr. Krabs for a while.
Right before starting the semester, I went on a trip to South Carolina, where I got a good few days to relax by the beach and eat good food before heading back for what might be my last year of school ever. It was nice getting that time to just relax with my family before heading off to write the final pages in the Moravian chapter of my life.
Oh! I also was an Orientation Leader! That also was a lot of fun, but my advisors are telling me I’m taking too long so I guess I’ll talk about it another time.
Liz Kameen
This summer, I went to a Hozier concert in June and saw John Oates live in August – at the later concert, I got to meet the drummer of the tour!
I also hiked over 40 miles in the Delaware Water Gap across sixteen different trails, adopted another stray kitten and named her Winnie, and took a day trip to wander around New York City.
I also auditioned and performed my first role in Spaced Out Sensations’ shadow cast of the Rocky Horror Picture Show as the character Rocky! You can usually find me performing at Steelstacks on the last Friday of every month at 11:30 p.m.
I spent some amazing time with my friends at the zoo, waterpark, and ice cream shop while continuing my legal records internship at Selective Insurance in Branchville, NJ. Now, I’m transitioning into a Co-Op role for the upcoming semester.
Lola Offenback
This summer was a bizarre roller coaster for me. I navigated being single for the first time since I was 16, worked a ton, discovered myself in new ways, and enjoyed making memories with friends and family.
I typically hate summer, it is never busy enough, never fulfilling enough. But somehow I kept myself busy and showed up for myself in ways I haven’t in the past.
Mostly, I worked at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. I worked nine of the ten days of Musikfest (and got to wear a hotdog costume) and grew close with a lot of my coworkers! We also became the number-one historic hotel in the country for the fourth year in a row!
I took the opportunity to be a writing fellow for the AIM program for three weeks, worked (sometimes overtime) nearly every day, and still found time to go to the beach, visit my family, and hang out with friends.
I spent a lot of time learning about myself and healing from heartbreak. I developed a newfound appreciation for moving my body and went to the gym consistently. I also started journaling and truly breaking down my thoughts and emotions.
On a more fun note, I also went to a concert to see sombr, where I got to meet him after! It was only the second concert I’ve ever been to and it was such a memorable experience to hear his music live.
My family adopted a new kitten, Boogie this summer! I’ve spent lots of time cuddling and playing with him as he adjusted to our house.
Fatimah Bouri
Usually, my summers are nothing special aside from work, work, and more work. Yet, this summer became one of my most adventurous ones. Going to Florida with my boyfriend was definitely a major highlight and gave me a quick answer to all the “What did you do over the summer” questions. From exploring Disney Springs to unwinding at Cocoa Beach and visiting my dad and siblings, I enjoyed myself through and through, and it really did set a wanderlust tone for the summer.
Being able to take road trips across PA also made such a difference! I went to Harrisburg to see The Living Tombstone with my best friend, Alex, and while the trip was quite exhausting, the concert was electrifying! I felt like I was back in middle school, blasting Five Nights At Freddy’s songs through my glitchy earbuds, so some part of my inner child must’ve healed. I took multiple trips to the Poconos, and at one point, I ventured all the way to Lake Ariel to go to the Claws ‘n’ Paws Zoo with The Comenian’s very own Cat and Liz. Feeding a giraffe was not as terrifying as I thought it would be! Speaking of animals, I finally got my cat! In July, thanks to a close friend, I welcomed a lively little grey cat into my humble abode and affectionately named her Penny.
As the summer was winding down, I reunited with my Humanities friends, and we had an exquisite Olive Garden lunch. I also got a chance to go to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, where I went to an aquarium for the first time, mini golfed, and, of course, enjoyed the sweet Shore! Compared to previous summers, this one was chaotic yet super engaging, and I have the people in my life to thank for keeping me sane through it! 🙂
Cat Forrester
Usually, my summer could be more uneventful, especially with the time I spend working at my job. Let me just tell you, this summer was something else. Let’s get to the good part: I got to hang out with someone that you guys might know. I got to hang out with the one and only Liz and Fatimah while we went to the zoo and waterpark on separate days because doing that at once would be somewhat crazy. Also, there were lots of Chili’s trips with my friends Fatimah and Nate!
The Humanities Club finally reunited at Olive Garden, and we went to the mall afterward. I don’t know what I would do without my amazing friends, who kept me occupied throughout the summer and always gave me something to look forward to. This reminds me, I should start taking more pictures because I have none.
Then, towards the end of the summer, I went to band camp, where I am a Co-brass Section Leader and Librarian for this fantastic group. This gave me a wonderful distraction over the break and something to look forward to for the upcoming semester. I look forward to bonding with new band members each summer!
Well, that’s the end of the summer break for me. Now, we shall return to work with classes and continue writing more articles for The Comenian!
Logan Palau
For me, this summer was a mission to improve myself. My junior year was difficult, to say the least, and I wanted to take the summer to reevaluate how I treat myself. I allowed myself to have experiences that were out of my comfort zone. I learned things about myself that were hidden away. I found that I love painting. I have always been interested in art, no matter the medium. I am a writer and a musician, but I have always been jealous that I couldn’t draw or paint. While I am no Pablo Picasso, I have found that there is a certain kind of peace of mind that washes over me when I am sitting in my living room with a good show or movie playing, painting whatever comes to mind.
When I wasn’t painting or working at a restaurant in my hometown, I explored the world around me. I visited my sister in Chicago, went on my family’s annual trip to the Outer Banks, and spent some time in Cape May, NJ. Something else I did this summer that has now become one of my favorite pastimes was going to the movie theater. Despite the millions of streaming services at my fingertips, there was no better feeling than sitting in the cold theater with snacks that cost the same as the ticket and immersing myself in the cinema. Lastly, my dad and I have always gone to concerts together, and this summer we got to see Blink-182, Foo Fighters, and Green Day. I am so thankful that we have similar tastes in music because it made the experience so much more enjoyable knowing that he was having just as amazing of a time as I was!
