The summer of my Freshman year of high school my mom told me that we were moving to The Florida Keys, I was in shock. I didn't want to leave behind the life I had, I had friends, family here and a swim team that I loved. I didn't wanna throw it all away to move to some small town where I knew no one and would have to start all over again.

I was so mad and was so against it, but it happened anyway and island living was my new normal.

I hated that there was no Panera or chipotle. Not to mention if you didn't have a boat there would be nothing. I started high school and was dreading it, honestly my mom and I made a deal that if I was still miserable in three months that she would pull me out and I could be homeschooled. That's how badly I didn't wanna go, but about three days in I met my best friend, who I literally would spend every day with for the next few years.

Eventually, we meet our core group of friends, and we had our own little clique and school just got easier. We are actually all friends still after almost over three years. Then I met the man that I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with as well, we are high school sweethearts. I learned that just because I didn't want to go to this school or live in this town didn't mean that this was going to stop me from meeting so many incredible people and having so many amazing experiences.

So many things changed, and even though I had lost a lot, I also gained so much more.

New friends, an amazing boyfriend, a new way of life basically. And I still even got to swim in this new town. I hated moving there and having that be my new normal but now I would never change it for anything. It made me into the person I am today, I honestly took it for granted living there because many people don't get to grow up in that kind of environment. It made me a better person, I will always appreciate the Keys for everything I have now.

I now will always want to be on island time!