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5 Reasons to Shop Local

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

I’ve been posting a lot about gift guides, Christmas, and shopping lately, mainly mentioning things you can buy online or in well-known chain stores. This is mainly for your convenience, since mentioning a local shop in my town doesn’t offer much help for you guys looking for gifts; however, don’t mistake this for me ignoring my local shopping options. Today, I’m going to be giving you five reasons why you should shop locally, and why I try to as much as possible.

  1. You’ll find more unique items – Shopping at the same five stores in the mall as everyone else results in always having the same stuff as everyone else. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes you want to get something special that no one else will have, especially for a gift. Going into little boutiques where the inventory changes often and there’s a wide variety of things for sale increases your chances of finding something unique.
  2. It can be a better deal – Chain stores can completely overcharge for their products because they know people will buy it. At local shops, the prices are often cheaper, but you’re not sacrificing quality for a deal.
  3. You can establish personal relationships with the employees – There’s a boutique in my town that I go to fairly often and the employees are always so kind and try to make shopping a personal experience. They’ll pick out things for you to try on that they think would look good on you, and they’ll let you know what the best deals are.
  4. It’s often more sustainable – Ordering lots of items online results in a lot of plastic wrap and other waste related to packaging being shipped to your door, only to be thrown away right afterwards. If you shop in local stores with possibly handmade products, there’s usually a lot less waste involved.
  5. Chain stores and online marketplaces are killing brick-and-mortar businesses – My mall used to have tons of cute and unique stores- now it’s fairly empty and only has a few huge chains like Victoria’s Secret, Macy’s, PacSun, etc. This goes for restaurants too! It’s important to

I hope this inspired you to do some of your holiday shopping at your local boutiques or even craft/artisan fairs. There’s always some new brand or artist waiting to be discovered, and you could be the one to discover it! Happy shopping 🙂

-Brooke

Why the Holiday Season Isn’t Always So Jolly

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I know my last two posts have been centered around the holidays and gift-giving, but today I want to discuss the holiday season in a different way. For many people, Christmas/the holidays are actually a very sad and lonely time. My family’s gone through a lot in the past few years, so I’ve seen Christmas from this perspective as well. My grandma who lived ten minutes away from me and was super close to everyone in my family passed away in 2017, and the holidays haven’t been the same since. In addition, we’ve drifted away from cousins on my dad’s side of the family for various reasons, distance being one of them.

I have memories of our house being full, having a huge fake tree, and setting up multiple tables so everyone could fit at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when I was really little. Once I got a little older, the celebration shrunk, but we still kept a lot of the same traditions; we did a family craft night on Christmas Eve, watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and sipped hot cocoa, and woke up wayyyy too early to open gifts and have pancakes for breakfast.

In the past few years though, the holidays haven’t felt very celebratory at all. I still get excited to decorate the tree, buy gifts for people, and participate in winter activities like ice skating and Secret Santa gift exchanges with friends, but when it comes to the actual holidays itself, things often fall short of how I remember them to be. Last Christmas, I remember opening my gifts and thanking my parents, but going up to my room after to cry. It just felt so lonely, having only my mom, my dad, and my brother there. I don’t feel lonely on any other day with just our small family, but during the holidays when it’s expected to spend time with family and I see my friends with their huge family parties filled with relatives they don’t even know, my celebration seems meek and sad in comparison.

Again, it’s not about the gifts or anything my parents are doing wrong. I am so grateful for all the family members that think to send me gifts and the time my parents spend picking out gifts they think I’ll like; however, this doesn’t replace the gaping hole left behind by my grandma’s absence. My grandma’s not the only person we used to celebrate with that we don’t spend Christmas with anymore, but she’s the person I miss the most.

Regardless, if you feel lonely this Christmas or anytime during the holiday season, just know you’re not alone. This time isn’t the “most wonderful time of the year” for everyone, and that’s okay. Don’t get yourself too down- still try to enjoy the wintry magic the holidays have to offer, but forget about comparing your holiday experience to others, and just remember what this time of year is all about. Spend time with the people you care about that are around, participate in the spirit of giving if you’re able, and be thankful you’re alive to experience another holiday season.

I sincerely apologize if any of this sounded preachy, but I don’t know how else to word my thoughts. For the past couple years, I’ve cried in my room after every major holiday. It just feels weird to grow up and not feel the ~magic~ anymore, in addition to time flying by and it not even feeling like the holidays are actually here. That being said, I hope you all have the best holiday season ever. Remember, you’re never alone.

-Brooke

Gift Ideas Under $20 to Up Your Secret Santa Game – For Her

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

If you were frantically searching the internet for ideas on what to get for a Secret Santa gift exchange, you’ve found the right place. I know the price limit on a gift exchange always seems daunting- you’re glad it’s not too pricey, but how are you supposed to get a great gift that the person will love for such a small sum? Here you have it- the best and most clever gifts that won’t break the bank.

For her:

  • Fuzzy socks – Old Navy has really cheap fuzzy socks, but Target and Nordstrom Rack also have a lot of cute ones.
  • Candles!! Target has affordable candles that are still really good- Homegoods is another place to look for various different brands. I absolutely love Anthropologie’s candles, but the full size ones are over $20- you can get a mini size for cheaper though!
  • Victoria’s Secret/VS PINK body products – Their body sprays and lotions are always on sale, and sometimes they have gift sets that are an even better deal.
  • Gift cards – Before you groan and say, ‘That’s so basic!”, think about going a little bit outside of the box. Instead of getting a gift card to her favorite clothing store, get her gift cards she can use at her favorite fast food places, favorite restaurants, favorite boutiques, the movies, or to important/useful services like Uber and grocery store gift cards. The possibilities are endless depending on what she likes!
  • Fuzzy blanket – Everyone loves a good throw blanket! I received a fluffy blanket last year in a Secret Santa; I believe you can find them on Amazon or stores like Marshalls and Homegoods for under or around $20.
  • Candy/snacks – If all else fails, everyone has a favorite food or snack. Fill up a gift bag with tons of sweets and they’re bound to love it- bonus points for being homemade!
  • A nice stationary set – For the girls with perfect notes, they would love a new notebook or set of pens. The Zebra midliners and Muji pens are really popular at my school right now, and you can get them on Amazon or your local stationary store.
  • Bath bombs – LUSH has my favorite scents, but you can get them pretty much anywhere- Target has even cheaper ones and they’re still just as good. I just find the LUSH ones look the prettiest.
  • A care package – If you get the items on the cheaper side, you can put together a cute package of lots of the items I’ve already listed. Go to Target and get a combination of candy, face masks, bath bombs, and fuzzy socks, and almost any girl will be happy.
  • Portable charger – If she already has a portable charger, you can get a wireless charger for them to use at home. For a girl on the go, or the girl constantly on her phone, this can be a real lifesaver. If I know I’m going to be out for the whole day, I never leave without mine.
  • Framed picture of the two of you – If you want to get creative, you could also make a collage or it could be a Polaroid picture in one of those cute Polaroid frames from Urban Outfitters. It’s a sentimental gift they’ll appreciate, and it doubles as cute room decor.
  • Beanie or some sort of hat – It’s winter and it’s cold; beanies have been trendy lately, and you can find them in any store. If they already wear and love beanies, get them a fun color you know they wouldn’t have.
  • Scrunchies – The ultimate VSCO girl trend, but also a practical gift for all. There are packs on Amazon that are super cheap and have every style imaginable- if you want to go for the best quality, get Urban Outfitters or Lululemon, but they’re much more expensive.
  • Stickers from Redbubble – There are SO many cute stickers on this website; I asked for some for my Hydro Flask this year. You can put them on your laptop, your water bottle, your notebooks, or anything you desire. The point is, there’s tons of options and it’s super customizable.
  • Astrology related gifts – If they believe in astrology, get them something related to their zodiac sign. Whether it’s a necklace, a book about their sign, or some room decor, this is a cute gift and something they probably don’t have.
  • Glossier products – This is perfect for the girl who loves makeup, or wants to get into it. I have their balm.com chapstick in multiple flavors and absolutely LOVE it. Their most-talked-about products are the Boy Brow, Balm.com, Milky Jelly Cleanser, and Cloud Paint blush. Based on what her style is, choose the product you think she’ll use most.

I hope this guide helps you find the perfect gift for your Secret Santa. It’s crazy to think December’s almost over and we’ll soon be ringing in the new year. Enjoy the holiday season while it lasts, and have so much fun getting into the spirit of giving. I have a few more holiday posts coming soon!

-Brooke

5 Candles That Would Make Great Holiday Gifts

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I have a mini gift guide for you all, focusing around one of my favorite things in the world: candles. There’s nothing better than lighting a candle on a cold winter day and curling up with a good book as you smell the scent wafting to the corners of your room. Candles are great all year-round, but I find I mainly light them in the wintertime. Here are five of my favorites that would make great gifts for the holidays.

  • Himalayan Homemade Candles – Primrose Hill: This is a great candle for all seasons, and the presentation of it is beautiful, so you can leave it out on a table for decoration. It smells like a breath of fresh air, but it’s not too strong of a scent.
  • Bath and Body Works – Fresh Balsam: This smells exactly like a Christmas tree, so it’s perfect for someone who has a fake tree but still wants the smell of a real one. I absolutely love the fresh smell, and I think it smells super authentic.
  • Bath and Body Works – Twisted Peppermint: A classic B&BW favorite, I also love this candle. I love the smell of peppermint, and this one reminds me of when I used to drench myself in the matching body spray and lotion. Ah, those were the days.
  • Yankee Candle – All is Bright: My mom introduced me to this candle somehow, and I absolutely love it. I can’t even describe what it smells like; it’s just a mild holiday scent that everyone can enjoy. My mom is very sensitive to smells and gets headaches easily, so that’s why all of these scents are mild.
  • Bath and Body Works – Winter Candy Apple: Another holiday favorite from B&BW. I really like all their renditions on apple scents, but this one is the most Christmassy. I think it’s also a fairly mild scent, if that’s what you’re looking for.

If you’re in the market for a new holiday candle, I hope this helped. All of these would make great gifts- you can even put them on your Christmas list!

-Brooke

10 Things to Watch on Disney+ Right Now

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Since I have a Verizon unlimited data plan, I get Disney+ free for a year. I have already binge watched so many of my old favorite shows, and there’s such a great selection that it’s hard to decide what to watch. If you’re curious if Disney+ is worth paying for, or you have it and are having trouble deciding what to watch first, here are 10 ideas for you. Keep in mind that I still have the mind of a child and love a throwback to my childhood, so most of these may seem a little cheesy or childish to someone more mature.

  1. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series – This is the new show related to High School Musical, a series that attempts to be more realistic, showcasing a high school production of High School Musical. Trying to explain it’s confusing, but I think you’ll get it once you watch it. I love the original movies still, so this was the first thing I went to watch when I logged into Disney+ for the first time.
  2. Phineas and Ferb – I feel like everyone can enjoy this show. My parents used to put it on and watch it with me on Saturday mornings. Just hearing the theme song makes me so nostalgic, and it’s a nice show to have on in the background.
  3. Home Alone – A Christmas classic, enough said.
  4. Wizards of Waverly Place – This was always my favorite Disney Channel show. Actually, it’s too hard to pick a favorite. Regardless, I still wish I was a wizard…
  5. Gravity Falls – As I write this, Gravity Falls is playing on my TV. I never finished it while it was actually playing, but this show was actually a really interesting and creepy show for a Disney Channel show. I plan on actually finishing it out this time.
  6. Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas – I know most people don’t really like these types of Disney Channel Original movies, but for some reason, I love this one. I watch it every Christmas Eve with my family members that don’t really enjoy it as much as I do, and it always puts me in a good mood because it showcases what the holidays are really about.
  7. The Simpsons – I don’t watch this show that often, but I’ve seen it from time to time. I know that it has its own cult following though, so I think it’s cool they have the whole show on Disney+.
  8. Starstruck – This is my favorite Disney Channel original movie that’s not tied to a TV show or anything. The songs are catchy, the love story is what I’ve always dreamed would happen to me living in Southern California. Still looking for my Christopher Wilde.
  9. The Suite Life of Zack and Cody – I will always wish I grew up in a fancy hotel or on a boat because of the antics in these shows. This is definitely on my rewatch list.
  10. The Nightmare Before Christmas – Another holiday classic, enough said.

You can watch all these things and more with Disney+! In my opinion, it’s definitely worth the price for all these classics you can’t stream other places. I recommend asking for it for Christmas 😉

-Brooke

Places I Want to Go in 2020

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!


After I wrote my post about all the places I’d been in 2019 (which you should go check out if you haven’t already), it got me thinking about where I hope to travel to this upcoming year. I traveled more than I ever have this year, so I feel like listing a whole bunch of places would be unrealistic- this list will be fairly short, and will pretty much only include places within the country. That’s why the post is listed “Places I Want to Go in 2020”, rather than just “Places I Want to Go” in general. Regardless, I hope you enjoy hearing about my longing for adventures.

  • New York, NY – I’ve been to upstate New York to visit family when I was 7, but we didn’t go to the city at all when I was there. I’ve wanted to visit New York so badly since watching Gossip Girl, and Columbia University has been one of my dream schools since I was little. There’s just so much to see there and it seems like it’s a city unlike any other, so I want to visit and experience it all (as well as tour Columbia!).
  • San Luis Obispo, CA – This is a much more local trip, but I’ve never really been anywhere in central or northern California. I’d like to visit Cal Poly SLO just to see what it’s like since I know it’s a good school, and it’s always fun to visit a beach town.
  • San Fransisco, CA – Similar to SLO, it’s a more local trip, but I’ve never been to San Fransisco. I find that funny since I’ve lived in California my whole life and it’s such a well-known city, so I really want to go and see what Northern California is like. There’s also a ton of schools to visit there like UC Berkeley and Stanford, so that’s an excuse to go. I think I want to go out-of-state for college, but SF is far enough that who knows- it may be a completely different vibe that I love. It also looks like such a beautiful city.
  • Chicago, IL – Another city to visit under the guise of college tours! I want to go see Northwestern and UChicago, and I really love cities, but I haven’t been to most of the big ones. I think this would be a cool trip, and my mom always says Chicago is her favorite city she’s been to.
  • Ann Arbor, MI – Michigan looks absolutely beautiful and I would love to see Lake Michigan and all the different parts. The reason I listed Ann Arbor is because that’s where the University of Michigan is, and I would love to go visit. It’s supposed to be beautiful there, and I would probably go in the same trip as Chicago since they’re relatively close.
  • Boston, MA – If I went to Boston, it would probably be part of a whole East Coast college tour. There’s so many colleges to look at in Boston, and all my friends who have been said it’s such a fun city. I’d like to go just to visit, but I would obviously want to tour the colleges there as well.
  • Washington D.C. – I went to D.C. for a school trip in eighth grade and fell in love. My dad has never been and I don’t think my brother plans on going on the school trip like I did, so we might do a family trip. I would also love to tour Georgetown and other schools in the area.
  • Maui or Oahu, HI – My grandparents live on the Big Island of Hawaii, but I’ve never been to the more “touristy” islands like Maui or Oahu. This is a pretty unrealistic trip since if I ended up going to Hawaii for whatever reason I would probably go visit and stay with my grandparents, but I figured I’d throw it out there since pretty much all of the other places on this list are more urban/cities.
  • East Coast trip in general – A couple of the places I listed are on the East Coast; I think I want to go to school on the East Coast, so I want to do a college tour trip where I can get a feel for all the main cities, and tour a lot of colleges. Some other notable places I would love to visit are some of the Ivies like Yale (Connecticut) and Brown (Rhode Island), and smaller liberal arts colleges.

I have no clue if any of these trips will end up happening; I suspect I’ll at least be able to go to SLO and San Fransisco, but I have no clue about anything else. I want to go do a summer program, so that may lead to a trip somewhere else in the country. Either way, I’m sure 2020 will lead to some amazing adventures, and I would love to hear where you want to go!

-Brooke

5 Steps to Succeed in Finals Week

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

I know finals week is coming up for everyone either this week (hopefully this post isn’t too late) or next week, so this post is going to be a short and sweet one for you guys to read and get on your way studying. My school does finals in January after winter break, but these couple weeks of December are so packed with work and tests that it’s basically pre-finals. Either way, this a busy time for pretty much everyone, and the stress can negatively impact the most put-together of students. Today I have five tips for success in finals week, hopefully with the least amount of stress possible.

  1. Pace yourself – Ideally, your finals will be spread out throughout the week (my school does block schedule so we only have two classes a day). If this is the case, place most of your focus on whatever’s coming up first. The only exception would be if there’s one class you’re really struggling in or need to bring your grade up in- then you should put that final first no matter what, and spend the most time on studying for it. Other than that, take it one final at a time and study accordingly. It minimizes a ton of stress if you’re only thinking about one big test, rather than anywhere from four to six.
  2. If your teacher doesn’t give you a study guide, make one – I find this is one of the best ways to study if you’re not sure what to do and you don’t want to passively look over your notes. Some teachers give study guides, which is excellent because it’s straightforward to study for those finals- you just complete the study in detail, then go over it and quiz yourself/have other people quiz you. However, if your teacher doesn’t provide one, you should definitely still make your own! Go through all the units and write down key concepts and their definitions/explanations, and do tons of practice problems for math and science subjects.
  3. Have a balance of studying alone and group studying – Studying alone shut up in your house will drive you stir-crazy and you may lose focus, but sometimes studying in a group can get you off-topic. The answer? A balance of both: review the material on your own and make your study guide so you’re familiar with the basis of everything, then go study in a group and quiz each other, asking questions about things you’re confused on.
  4. Focus on school – Finals week is only one week, and it’s super important for your grades. Therefore, it should take priority over other things like extracurriculars for the week. Obviously honor any important commitments like work or sports practice, but it’s fine to let other things slide for a few days.
  5. Go see your teachers for extra help – This is a good idea for two reasons. One, if you need the help, it’s so important to ask for it. Your teachers should be happy to clear up any confusion you have and go through some review with you if you come in with specific questions. Two, they’ll often give you some insight and subtle hint as to what will be on the final. Whenever I’ve gone in to ask a teacher for help, he or she will point out what I really need to know.

Good luck on your finals everyone! Remember there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and this will all be over in a flash. I have faith all of you will do great, especially if you utilize these tips.

-Brooke

5 Ways to Make Reading Fun (for Book-Haters)

BrookeLeave a comment

Welcome back everyone!

I talk about this a lot, but I love to read. I can’t imagine my childhood without the hundreds of books I pored over, and weekly trips to the library. I’m really lucky that my parents introduced me to reading so young and encouraged me to keep reading and find books I loved. However, I know that not everyone is lucky enough to grow up the same way, or even if they are, not everyone ends up liking reading as they get older.

Reading is so beneficial even if you’re not a book-nerd; it helps you grow your vocabulary, it provides an escape from the outside world, and books will always teach you something new. If you’re one of those people who dreads required reading for school or can never follow a plot line: never fear, here are five ways you can make reading more enjoyable.

  1. Try nonfiction – I know nonfiction sounds boring at first; there’s no creative fantasy worlds being carefully crafted by the authors, that’s for sure. However, in a lot of cases, people who don’t like reading fiction can find nonfiction books specifically catered to their interests. For example, read a book written by your favorite celebrity, or read a self-help book related to something you’ve been struggling with. There’s a book for everyone out there, and nonfiction books catered to your interests are often easier to find than that of fiction.
  2. Find your niche/genre – Similar to how trying nonfiction can open you up to a world of books you enjoy, exploring different genres can completely change your perspective on the reading experience. Maybe you hate fantasy novels, but you’d really like murder mysteries, or vice versa. Think of what TV shows/movies you enjoy watching, and try to find something comparable in book form.
  3. Look for storylines or plot elements you can relate to – I always found I loved stories that brought in elements of relatability. This is why I tend to gravitate towards realistic fiction when I need something new to read. I think when people can relate to the main character or something about the main character’s life, they’re so much more invested in the story and can often connect with the overarching message of the book.
  4. Join a book club or create a discussion group with friends – If your friends are up for it, this is a great way to get more immersed into books. You’ll have a reason to keep reading on a timeline, and you can get some insight on why other people with different perspectives are enjoying the book. A shift in perspective can be just what you need to start enjoying reading!
  5. Read to learn – This is a more vague tip, but it honestly has helped me so much. This works more for required reading where you can’t choose what the book is, but you can use this outlook on whatever you read. Look at everything you read as an opportunity to gain insight on the world and learn something new- whether it’s a vocab word, something about history, or something specific to the themes and topic of the text. You’ll begin to enjoy the consumption of all this new information.

I hope this inspires you guys to get out there and read something new. If you happened to stumble across this post even though you do, in fact, enjoy reading, then I would love for you to leave some book recommendations down below. I plan to be doing some more book reviews and book-related content soon.

-Brooke

Places I’ve Been in 2019 – A Year’s Review

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

If you have been following my blog since the beginning, you would know that my first posts were all about my trip to Europe this summer. Let it be known that even though this year I had a couple big trips and traveled quite a bit, in the past, I’ve never taken more than one trip in a year. There were a lot of different reasons why I traveled so much more this year, and I’ll dive into these reasons when I talk about each destination. Also, as another kind of disclaimer: I know this may not seem like a lot of traveling to some people, and to others it may seem like an insane amount of travel. Whatever your perspective is, just know that I am immensely grateful for every experience I’ve had and for any of the traveling opportunities I’ve taken advantage of.

I’ve always wanted to travel more and see different parts of the country (and the world!), and this year, I actually did. I explored parts of three different countries (technically four if you count Vatican City), going out of the country for the first time. I had a couple weekend trips away from home where I got a taste of independence, and I had an insanely busy summer filled with travel. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll recognize most of these- if you’re new, then welcome!

  • Palm Springs, CA (April) – Over spring break of freshman year, my friend invited me to come to Palm Springs with her family for a few days. We stayed in a beautiful Airbnb in La Quinta with a pool with a couple other families (her family friends) and literally just relaxed the whole time. Funnily enough, my favorite memory from the trip was the bike rides my friend and I went on- it wasn’t actually that hot when we were there and the neighborhood was beautiful (and huge!) so we went on a few three-mile rides circling the neighborhood. I really needed the relaxation and quality time with a friend.
  • Paris, France (June) – The beginning of my first trip to a foreign country/first time in Europe, Paris did not disappoint. I had never been out of the country before since my family doesn’t travel often, but my dad had an international Rotary conference in Germany so my mom, my brother, and I planned to meet him afterwards in Paris. Whenever I thought of going to Europe in the past, Paris was my #1 destination. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person, especially lit up at night, was probably the highlight of my year. The city was absolutely gorgeous and didn’t even feel real; I felt like I was in a storybook. There was some bumps along the road with my dad getting pickpocketed, but I LOVED the city and would love to go back and see more.
  • Sorrento, Italy (June) – This was actually my favorite city in Italy, and it’s not even a city. When we got off the 2-hour flight from Paris into Naples and drove into this beautiful beach town, I knew this was the place for me. It was a perfect few days of relaxing inbetween the bustling cities of Paris and Rome; our hotel was super nice and right in the middle of the main square. The beach was a short walk away and the Mediterranean Sea was so warm and beautiful- the food we ate in this city was probably the best of all too. I would love to return and see the rest of the Amalfi coast- no complaints at all here.
  • Rome, Italy (June) – Actually quite disappointing compared to the expectation I had, but still insanely picturesque. My favorite memory of Rome would either be sitting on the Spanish steps overlooking the square and shops around, or the night that we watched the sunset at a restaurant across from the Colosseum. I felt kind of unsafe in Rome due to the mass amount of scammers on the streets and the sketchy train station, but we didn’t actually have any problems there. Our hotel was amazing and we got upgraded to a suite, so that was nice too.
  • Florence, Italy (June) – A truly immaculate city, it sounds silly but I loved how clean everything was. The Duomo was bigger than I could’ve ever imagined, and seeing Michelangelo and all the other artwork was very cool as well. My favorite part was probably walking down the Ponte Vecchio and going into all of the fancy jewelry stores. I wish we had stayed for another day- our stay here was only two nights.
  • Venice, Italy (June) – Our last stop on the Europe trip, Venice was very different than I imagined it would be. The weather was really bad with lots of rain on our last day so we mainly stayed indoors, but it was beautiful when we came in. Since it’s actually a very small city, I didn’t expect how cramped it would feel. The canals were gorgeous and my highlight of this stop was definitely our gondola ride at sunset. The city just oozes with beautiful historic architecture.
  • Buena Park, CA (Knott’s Berry Farm, July) – Only a week after returning from Europe, I went to Knott’s Berry Farm for four days for cheer camp. We got to spend one day in the park, so that was obviously the highlight; I had never been before and the rides were quite fun- not too intense for me, but still a thrill. This definitely was my least favorite trip of the summer just because cheer camp was brutal, but it was nice to have a change of pace and go to an amusement park.
  • Orange, CA (Chapman University, July) – Continuing the crazy business of my summer, a week after cheer camp I headed off to stay in the Chapman University dorms for four days for yearbook camp with my school yearbook staff. This was surprisingly one of the best memories I have of summer- we were completely independent in the dorms and the camp was a little bit more free-form, so it was a true dorm life experience. The campus was super cute and small so I felt like I knew it like the back of my hand by the time we left. Also, the actual camp was SO much fun and as a newbie to my school’s yearbook staff, I got to know people a lot better.
  • Fresno, CA (November) – I know Fresno’s not exactly a vacation destination, but I went there for the weekend for a Youth and Government conference. The city is definitely…interesting… but I had an amazing time at the conference held in the Fresno Convention Center, and I met so many amazing people from across the state. It made the four-hour bus drive very worth it. It was also another taste of independence since my roomies and I were responsible for getting around to our sessions and everything.
  • Seattle, WA (November) – My mom and I planned a girls’ Seattle trip for Thanksgiving break because we had both always wanted to see the city, and I wanted to visit the University of Washington. We stayed in the center of downtown, right near the Space Needle and the Pike Place Market. We had amazing food everyday and packed so much into the few days we were there, including a full day touring the college. I LOVED the city, but unfortunately did not feel at home at UW. That being said, I absolutely fell in love with Seattle and could totally see myself living there for a job one day.
  • Victoria, British Columbia (November) – My mom and I realized we had a day with nothing planned during our Seattle trip, so we impulsively decided to take a three-hour ferry to Victoria (Canada!) for the day. I’ve always wanted to go to Canada, so now I can say I have. Victoria’s an island and the capital of BC, as well as the “city of gardens” so there’s a ton to do and see there. It was beautiful (must sees are the Fairmont Empress hotel and the Parliamentary Buildings, as well as the Bouchart Gardens thirty minutes away) and it made me want to return and see other beautiful parts of Canada. I wish we had more time to explore Victoria as well.

As you can tell, my 2019 was full of super exciting experiences and I went to so many places that I had never been before and never imagined I would get to visit, especially in one year. This year went by so fast, and sometimes I forget all of these different trips all happened in 2019; so much was packed into this past year. I don’t think I’ll be traveling nearly as much in 2020, but we’ll see! You never know where life will take you. 🙂

-Brooke

The beautiful sunset view from our Airbnb in La Quinta.
The Eiffel Tower at night.
View of the ocean below from a viewpoint on the cliffs in Sorrento.
The Colosseum in a dreamy light near sunset.
The Duomo up close.
Scenic waterfront in Venice as we boarded our gondola.
The famous Valdez Hall where us Youth and Gov kids ate our meals in Fresno.
The Pike Place Market bustling at dinnertime.
The Space Needle from the point of view of a parking lot nearby.
The stunning Parliamentary Building in Victoria.

Why I’m Not Doing High School Cheer Anymore

BrookeLeave a comment

Hello everyone!

Today I’m going to be fully dissecting a topic that I’ve mentioned in passing on this blog many times: my ultimate decision on whether or not I will be continuing to be a high school cheerleader after this season. This year’s season is not officially over until about halfway through February, but basketball is not nearly as popular of a sport at my school as football, so it already feels like it’s dwindled down. Regardless, now that I’m almost done with my second season as a high school cheerleader, I feel more confident in my feelings about it and the next step for me. As the title of this post suggests, I’ve (VERY carefully) decided that I do not plan on trying out for next year’s cheer season this spring.

Whenever I bring this up to people in conversation, they’re always shocked. I’m not sure if it’s like this at other schools, but at my school, the sports team/major activity (choir, band, Academic Decathlon, journalism/yearbook) you’re involved with is a huge part of your “school persona” (more on why I use this term later). My friends say, “Why don’t you want to do it anymore? Don’t you like it? Don’t you at least want it to show consistency on your college application?”. And they have a point- in the beginning of my freshman year, when I first joined the cheer team, I was obsessed with being on cheer. I wouldn’t shut up about it; it wasn’t because I thought I was cooler than everyone else since I was a cheerleader, it was because I had never been on a sports team or anything similar before cheer.

In fact, one of the main reasons I kept going back and forth about continuing with cheer was how it would reflect on my college applications come senior year. If I continued, I would be on varsity next year (if I made it; all juniors are on varsity), and I could say I’d been in a varsity sport in high school; I could say I’d been committed to a sport for four years in high school as well. Sports are a huge time commitment, and that’s definitely a big component of a lot of high schoolers’ lives and extracurricular commitments. I also thought being a cheerleader specifically might be a “hook” in some way for more prestigious schools, since cheerleaders are often stereotyped as dumb, and schools want diversity/people from all sports and activities that break stereotypes.

Furthermore, I worried about my own self-esteem regarding the decision- would I feel like a quitter? Even though it’s totally my right to decide not to try out again after finishing up this season, I somehow felt like that was a failure in a way. I’m kind of a perfectionist and I’m clearly quite hard on myself, so to stop doing cheer would be to admit that it wasn’t for me and that I couldn’t master it. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I don’t want to spend my time trying to “master” cheerleading, and that’s perfectly okay- I can use my time on other things I love, like writing. I think part of the reason I felt so bad about stopping is that I’ve never really stuck to a sport or a major organized activity for more than a year, but I’ve been doing cheer for three years if you count eighth grade. It was one of those situations where you feel like you’ve come so far and don’t want to stop now, but I had to get myself out of that mentality; continuing cheer would hurt me more than help me in the long run.

As far as the reasons I wanted to quit, there were many. First of all, I wasn’t good at cheer, and although that’s not a reason to quit on its own, it made it a lot harder to enjoy the season. At our school, after sideline cheer season is over, there’s a competitive season; even though sidelines season is kind of a joke, competitive season is super intense. I knew I didn’t want to be on the competition team last year, so I didn’t try out. A lot of the girls on my team did, so coming into this year’s season they had a bunch of new skills and were so much stronger- I wasn’t. Second, the coaches didn’t like me. Favoritism is very prevalent in our program, and they pretty much only like the girls who were on the competition team (yes, a lot of them are more skilled, but not everyone- and that’s not the point). Since I wasn’t very good, that exacerbated their frustration with me.

Those last two reasons were fairly minor in my decision-making process, but combined with the bigger reasons I’ll discuss now, there were too many reasons for me to quit, and almost none to stay. One of the main things I was struggling with was that I didn’t feel included on the team, and I wasn’t a fan of the dynamic (partially because of the favoritism). Our team is mainly divided into two parts: a big friend group of girls that has all done cheer together since they were little, and everyone else who joined cheer for other reasons. My best friend was on the team with me, but she had been on the competition team and is super talented, and therefore was more well-liked by everyone- I wasn’t. I always felt like an outsider but I didn’t even want to try to fit in with the other girls because I knew I wouldn’t, and I would just be making a fool out of myself.

Feeling excluded only contributed to my dread over going to practices and games. Cheer, just like any other sport, is a significant time commitment. During football season, between two-hour practices everyday and six-hour game days including travel, I would spend anywhere from 12-15 hours doing cheer per week (more if there were special events like school rallies or performances outside of school). I didn’t have as much time for other activities I had wanted to join or spend more time on (like writing!) and I wasn’t even getting anything out of the experience since I was finding myself hating going to cheer more and more. It felt like a huge waste of my time, and it was hard to know that cheer was the reason I didn’t have time to pursue things I actually enjoy, or at least be more productive/have more time to study/etc. I know these are normal things that come with being in a sport, but that’s the thing- most people in sports either stay in it because they like it or because they’re good at it, ideally both. At this point, I was in neither of those situations.

For these reasons and probably more I’ve forgotten by now, I made up my mind that this cheer season will be my last. Am I scared I made the wrong decision? Of course. Am I worried I’ll end up missing it somehow? Obviously. Am I going to change my mind? I can’t say for sure, but I really don’t think so. The thing that’s helped me is quite a few of my friends have gone through similar experiences with their respective sports this year, and a few of them have even quit already/mid-season. I felt a lot less lonely because of that, and a lot more confident in my decision; I need to do what’s best for me and what will lead me to happiness. And you know what? Even though this season’s not over yet, I feel better already.

One thing I wanted to address that’s not directly related to ending my high school cheer career: my tumbling classes/cheer experiences outside of school. For about two years, I’ve been taking tumbling classes with coaches from the gym that I cheered at in eighth grade. This year, that was structured into one private lesson per week/sometimes every other week with one coach, and a group lesson every week with a different coach. Even though I knew I wouldn’t be continuing cheer, I told myself I wanted to just keep going to tumbling for a little bit and see if it was something I still enjoyed outside of cheer. The last few lessons I went to, I felt unmotivated and I just wanted to get them over with. It was kind of an abrupt decision, but I decided to stop attending tumbling classes as well. It feels really weird not driving to the familiar cheer gym every week, but I honestly don’t really miss it yet. I think it was just time for me to move on.

Since basketball season is going on, I’m getting a little bit of exercise through cheer every week. However, once cheer is over, I will have no structured physical activity in my life. I think it’s super important that I find a replacement form of exercise since it’s important for me to be outside and get my vitamin D, and I still want to stay in shape. This means you can expect some upcoming health/fitness related content!

-Brooke