Moving to Mackinac: An Ode to the Island

I like to think of myself as someone who is adventurous. Someone who is brave and bold enough to do something outside of her comfort zone, and is willing to stand out from the crowd. But I have to say, moving to an Island for 2 summers in a row was something I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams.

It was nearing the summer of 2021, and I had just finished my freshman year of college at Grand Valley State University. The year was filled of COVID 19 lockdowns and online classes, and I was looking for something new and exciting in my life. One Friday afternoon, I sat down at my kitchen table in my hometown of Flushing Michigan, and applied for jobs on Mackinac Island, just for the fun of it. Little did I know, that decision would shape me into the person I am today. 

I got hired as a barista at the Starbucks right on Main Street. Only three days after I got hired for the job, I packed my things up, and made my way to Mackinac Island to spend my summer there, where I would not know a single person and live in a run down dorm of 20+ girls. That summer ended up being not really what I expected. Although I made a decent amount of money from working there, and proved success at my job, I had no plans on ever coming back.

Flash forward to the summer of 2022. I just ended my sophomore year at Grand Valley. I was in the same boat as last year when my manager in Mackinac reached out to me and offered me a raise to come back to the Island to work for her. After dreading the idea of going back, I decided I wanted to change my perspective and try again. Going back to the Island that year ended up being the best decision I have ever made. That summer was hands down one of the best summers of my life. I not only learned a lot about myself, but I also learned how to overcome adversity. I worked hard at my job as a barista and discovered I really enjoy making coffee. I met one of my best friends that summer. She was my coworker at Starbucks, and is still one of my good friends to this day. I met and worked with people from all over the world. I even taught one of my coworkers from Kazakhstan how to count money.

Moving to an Island those summers shaped me into who I am today. I am someone who is always looking to step outside of their comfort zone, even if that means being uncomfortable at times. A quote that I like to live by is one by Neill Strauss that says, "great things never came from comfort zones." I think that doing things we wouldn't normally do can stretch our capabilities and learn skills about ourselves we never knew we had.