Wow, the past few weeks have been a whirl wind. I graduated on May 31st and had an all-night senior party at my school that lasted till 5 AM. It feels good to be done with high school. I had a graduation/birthday party and then got my wisdom teeth out. Now I have recovered and have some time to post my final reflection post.
I began May Term knowing as much about Park Rapids as I had known since I was little. I come up each summer, sometimes during the fall, and various times throughout the year to visit my grandparents and other family. Our visits always include card games, boat rides, good food, trips into town, and fun times with family. This time, I got to see Park Rapids from a different perspective. While I still did the things I normally do, I had the mindset of exploring new parts of town and learning things I didn't know before. I soon realized that Park Rapids really isn't all that small. As I spent time downtown, I was shocked at how many cars kept driving by on a weekday. It's funny, but it was almost impossible to make a left hand turn onto Park Avenue because there was an endless stream of pickup trucks, motorcycles, and cars. This just reminded me that even for a small town, there is always something going on in Park Rapids. Whether it is a musical, farmer's market, or other event, the town is busy, especially in the spring and summer. It may have been especially busy due to Memorial's Day weekend. I was seeing not just visitors, but mainly people who live in or near town. Another thing I realized about Park Rapids is that everyone is involved in something different. Some are huge supporters of the arts and music—participants, audience members, or both—while others are involved with community service and helping out the less fortunate. I also realized that not everyone is living a prosperous life in the community. The county of Hubbard is very poor and there are people who work extremely hard to make a living. So, while there are many that get to enjoy spending time at a cabin near the lake, there are many that aren't as lucky. This project has been a great experience to practice skills I'll need in the journalism field and meet new people. I'm glad I had the opportunity to interview people about their careers, community involvement, and ask the question, "What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?".
I began May Term knowing as much about Park Rapids as I had known since I was little. I come up each summer, sometimes during the fall, and various times throughout the year to visit my grandparents and other family. Our visits always include card games, boat rides, good food, trips into town, and fun times with family. This time, I got to see Park Rapids from a different perspective. While I still did the things I normally do, I had the mindset of exploring new parts of town and learning things I didn't know before. I soon realized that Park Rapids really isn't all that small. As I spent time downtown, I was shocked at how many cars kept driving by on a weekday. It's funny, but it was almost impossible to make a left hand turn onto Park Avenue because there was an endless stream of pickup trucks, motorcycles, and cars. This just reminded me that even for a small town, there is always something going on in Park Rapids. Whether it is a musical, farmer's market, or other event, the town is busy, especially in the spring and summer. It may have been especially busy due to Memorial's Day weekend. I was seeing not just visitors, but mainly people who live in or near town. Another thing I realized about Park Rapids is that everyone is involved in something different. Some are huge supporters of the arts and music—participants, audience members, or both—while others are involved with community service and helping out the less fortunate. I also realized that not everyone is living a prosperous life in the community. The county of Hubbard is very poor and there are people who work extremely hard to make a living. So, while there are many that get to enjoy spending time at a cabin near the lake, there are many that aren't as lucky. This project has been a great experience to practice skills I'll need in the journalism field and meet new people. I'm glad I had the opportunity to interview people about their careers, community involvement, and ask the question, "What is your favorite thing about living in Park Rapids?".