No stress weekends give students breaks; Escapades with friends create memories

     Getting away on the weekend is important to many students at NH especially for a junior, Marissa Altenburg. She explained how, “trips are the most memorable because […] [her and her friends] get to all experience things together and just having more time than a sleepover,” making them memorable.

     Altenburg’s favorite trip with her friends so far was to, “Cape May because […] [they] saw the most beautiful sunset the first night and it felt like a rush to see something like that in person. Driving around at night was fun along with not seeing many people there because it was winter. It felt like the place was all,” to themselves. This trip made her, “appreciate being away from school and stress for the weekend.”

     Along with trips away from home Altenburg also values “quality time to relax.” As long as she has “good friends and good conversation […] [she] can make an experience.” 

     In the future, she hopes to “go to a place called Fred W Symmes Chapel in South Carolina because of its breathtaking view.” 

     For senior Kierstyn McManus and her friends, they “love exploring.” They like to go to places they have been before and then “find more discrete places from there alongside streams,” to hang out. 

     She values “talks about deep stuff,” when she spends quality time with her friends. McManus believes, “there’s something about nature that makes you feel authentic and connects you to your surroundings. She loves getting out and just enjoying the quietness and beauty of what’s outside.” 

     A trip to remember for McManus was in “this past December” when she “drove to the Lost City, West Virginia with two friends. It was very mountainous and covered in snow at the time.” She found it, “such a great getaway.” 

     To keep the adventure alive, McManus and her friends “plan to take two years off after college to travel in a van around the country. […] [They] are saving up tons of money now to travel out west and up north each summer.” They want to do this, “especially because […] [they’re] all going to different colleges and traveling is something […] [they] all promised to do.” 

     Jackie McGowan is another senior who goes on trips with her friends. What makes them memorable is the time they spend together, “there is never a dull moment.” It does not matter what they are doing because they “always grow closer just a little bit more,” each time they hang out.

     She and some friends like to, “go and explore the amazing nature hikes with snacks to sit down and have a little time to appreciate it fully.” 

     Her favorite trip, “was to Susquehanna River because of being right on the water and it was so peaceful to be present there.” On the trip, McGowan and her friends were able, “to live life to the fullest.” 

     She “hopes to do the same adventures in the future even though,” they’ll be older and have different lives outside of high school.