Beautiful and Blue

China H.

Tonia P

ENGL 1102

February 9th, 2020

Beautiful and Blue

Dear Senior Class of 2099,

      I hope your collegiate experience has been one filled with adventure, enlightenment and knowledge to last a lifetime. When I graduated college I was 

anxious for my next steps but with anxiety to the side I was so thankful for the four years of university that positively changed my life. In fact, when I think

about my own collegiate experience, the fondest memory I have is going study abroad.

     It was the summer of 2015, I was a junior going into senior year and I had been given a wonderful opportunity to travel abroad to San José, Costa Rica

for two months. The opportunity became even better when I was selected to attend free of expenses through a university scholarship. The trip was an

educational based trip that centered on healthcare disparities affecting San José and finding appropriate solutions to those disparities. As a group we

compared access, availability and quality of healthcare between public and private hospital facilities in rural or urban communities. The trip not only

provided education but it provided fun as well.

    Each day after my class finished our studies, we were allowed to travel in groups to different parts of the city. My group and I loved to go to the beach.

Even though the bus ride was long, the beach views were worth the trip. The beaches in San José were stunning. The skies were cloud free, the waters

were crystal clear blue and the sand was pure white. Going to the beach, having a nice dinner and a drink, or two, was the perfect way to end our long

days of classes.  

   The energy the beach provided could not be matched in any other environment. Whenever I was there I felt calm, relaxed and one with nature. I

remember vividly looking into the ocean and day dreaming about my life. The waters always made me feel like there were endless possibilities on what I

could achieve.

   When I returned home I missed the beach daily. I missed not being able to go there to and unwind. I had grown to love the beach and really felt attached

to that feeling. Craving to reproduce that feeling I started taking trips that would satisfy. I travelled to Miami Beach, Santa Monica Beach and Jamaica. All

three were beautiful but nothing compared to San José.

    I hope there are still beaches around where you all can feel embraced by the waters and enjoy the beautiful blue ocean views. My written encounters

would be much more meaningful if you all are able to experience a beach for yourself. Unfortunately due to climate and environmental changes I

understand that may not be the case. In the news we are constantly being told that global warming is causing sea levels to rise. With rising sea levels this

causes beaches to retreat to mainland.

   Over time, if global warming has not been overhauled by human action, there will be no sand to sit on the beach and watch the views This saddens me

greatly because the beautiful blue beach was a mesmerizing experience. So forgive us now for not doing a better job at preserving nature’s beauty. I am

wishing you all the best of luck on your future endeavors and congratulations on graduation.

Sincerely,

C. Hawkins 2020