Anguilla, Prickly Pear, & Presentations - Ashley Cooner

It's hard to put into words how being here changes a person for the better, but it truly does. This week has been one of the more laid-back weeks as far as excursions and being on the go to different places, but it has lived up to the hype of the previous weeks in its own way.

On Tuesday, a group of us walked from Sapphire to Maho to get $2 tacos at Three Amigos. Not only were the tacos good, but the time spent there made the 30-minute walk worth it. We all talked, laughed, and made jokes sitting around the table. After dinner, we walked around and explored Maho, which was very fun – especially when we all had to walk back. Nights like that, where the fun is purely based on conversations, are the best because you’re only growing closer to your friends on the trip and making long-lasting memories and friendships.

On Wednesday, we shared our Client Profile Presentations with the class. I can’t lie, I always get a little nervous when presenting, even when it's in front of your friends. However, my group spent a lot of quality time working on it, practicing it, and making sure we were well-versed with the information we were sharing, so once I got up with the rest of my group in front of the class, the nerves went away, and I felt confident to share my parts of the project (which doesn’t happen often).

Then, on Friday, was our trip to Prickly Pear Island and Anguilla. I was really excited for this excursion because a few others and I had talked to Huff about which trip was his favorite. He said that this was his favorite by far. You can imagine this excursion had big shoes to fill. However, it lived up to expectations. Like the catamaran tour around the island, we were able to dance, tan, and sit with friends on the nets of the boat. We went to Prickly Pear first, and the island was so serene, and the water was so clear. We were able to snorkel, jump off the boat, and swim in the water, and we saw beautiful fish there. Then, we went to Anguilla. This island was also stunning. I loved how the architecture of the houses and shops along the beach were in the same style, and we were able to swim to the beach, which allowed us to see the different vibe of this beach compared to what we are used to in Sint Maarten.

This week, I was also able to grow closer in my friendship with my roommate, Gracen. I feel like it’s one thing to share a space with someone, but another to truly relate to them and realize how similar you actually are, and how your friendship can continue post-trip. I am truly grateful for all of our late-night chats and pool days, and how she is authentically herself all of the time, and how much of a great friend she really is.

I can't believe we only have one more week here, but I am so excited to make the most of it!