As a freshman in Creative Writing, I can already tell you that field trips and wondrous days with your classmates will be some of the most memorable moments you make at SOTA. 

To mark the end of community weeks this year, CW took our annual trip to Aquatic Park. After everyone had changed into their swimsuits and shorts, we took the bus straight from SOTA all the way to where the Ghirardelli sign meets the Bay. The sun was high in the sky and perfectly lit against the water, and Emily (our wonderful CW director) set up a speaker playing lovely music as we ate popsicles on the concrete steps, ran on the sand, swam in the soothing cold water, and basked in the warmth of the day. The perfect way to end the week, on a sunny Friday afternoon with classmates, just hanging out and having no worries. 

We spent about two hours there, simply relaxing and laughing with our friends. And then all of a sudden, as it turned 4:00, it was only the freshmen left. Our plan was convenient, as it was Friday, and we all were planning on heading over to Cine Club (where you eat delicious cookies and watch films in various genres from around the world- a mandatory but exciting opportunity for all creative writers). We all decided to take another long bus trip to the Randall Museum to watch the film, Run Lola Run. However, we did end up missing one of our bus stops along the way, while also getting hilariously lost within the streets of the Castro neighborhood, surrounded by cars and people and colors. We ended up getting directions from a very kind pedestrian (who definitely thought we were tourists judging by our exceedingly confused expressions) and worked our way up the hill just in time to grab refreshments and enjoy the film at the museum.

Whenever I reflect on the funny and slightly concerning moments of that day, I remember that my happiness didn’t come from where we were, or what we did. I realize that it was the people around me that truly made me smile and made the day special, and that goes to say for every trip and activity that we get to experience during community weeks. I will be forever grateful for the beautiful day I got to experience with CW.