Last week, I was hanging out at my friend’s house, listening to her younger sister – a soon-to-be high school grad / girl I’ve known for almost 10 years – talk about the summer trip she’s been planning with her friends. And while I was definitely taken aback by the fact that my friend’s sister was actually graduating high school [and making me realize that you’re never too old to feel old], her plans reminded me of the trip I took way back in ’02.

A few days after graduation, my friends and I jet-setted to Hawai’i – a four-hour flight from our SoCal houses – intent on kick-starting our summer with a little island flavor. And kick-start we did. From casual days on the beach to a deep sea fishing adventure that none of us will ever forget, my friends and I were fortunate to get away from everything for a few days and relax; a trip we’d definitely earned throughout the last four years.

In fact, that fishing trip came up in conversation the other week. The reason it’s tied to our memories is based on two things: 1) Three of the five of us fell asleep on the deck without putting sunscreen on; and 2) The fish we caught gave the same three food poisoning. And trust me, you don’t need to be a math major to figure out this equation: Gnarly sunburns + food poisoning = lots of Aloe [and even more laughter from the two of us who were burn and poison-free]. It also resulted in a nickname that’s stuck with one of the guys ever since: The Red Whale. But that’s another blog for another time.

I hope you’re planning to jump on a plane, boat, or drive yourself somewhere, because you won’t regret taking a Senior Trip. Not only is it something you’ve earned throughout the last four years, but it’s also something you and your friends will be talking about for years to come.

Whether or not nature intervenes.