Emma Ziegler

So, about moving. I grew up in Crystal Falls, Michigan. I lived there for 11 years and I was born there. It is a small town, but that doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do there. It is an amazing town and has lots of fun things to do, and places to go. Some of the places that I love most are there and are special. Crystella Ski Hill is one of my favorites. There are lots of fun jumps that people make themselves, there are fun backtrails, and most of all, the people working there are really nice. It is an awesome place to get together with people.

Some of the parks there are great too! They are good for little kids and older kids. I really liked it because whenever I was babysitting, we would always have such a great time. Also, the parks are located in fun places. One is by a lake, one is in an open area, and there are other fun places to go to also. A Community Garden is a fun place, and it brings people together.

There are also fun stores to visit. There are all types: Ben Franklin, Winks Woods, and others. There are lots of fun things to get in the stores and I love meeting up with friends and going shopping.

Another place I like to visit with my friends and make new ones are at camps. My favorites are Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp and Camp Batawagama. Fortune Lake Camp is for everybody, and you can stay overnight, or just for the day. Also, the people are extremely nice and it is a great experience to go there. Camp Batawagama is meant for 10 and older and it is lots of fun. There are lots of activities, fun songs, and great food. You get to engage in so many fun things. There is also a dance in the middle of the camp week. It’s lots of fun and you always have something fun to do.

One of the main reasons that I love Crystal Falls is because of all the people. People are welcoming and kind. My Grandma Joyce and Grandpa Bill live there, along with my Grandma Cheryle and Grandpa Floyd. Also, the most awesome friends live there. The school that I used to go to is Forest Park. It is a small, but very mighty school. The teachers are really nice and are here to help you. There are fun sports and clubs there too. It is a great place, and I didn’t ever want my life to change.

That’s when my parents told me and my sisters that we were moving. It all happened on a night in April, right before we were going to bed. They told us to sit down because they needed to tell us something. I thought it would be something like, we were going on a fun trip or we were going to have a new cousin, but no. “We are going to have a big change in our lives, girls,” they said. “We are going to be moving.” Right at that second, it felt like I was falling into a hole. Was this a dream? Is this really happening? My life felt like it was slipping through my fingers. I was going to have to say goodbye to everyone and everything. The little shops, my school, Forest Park, the community garden, the fun volleyball court, all my friends, my house, and even my grandparents. “Why?” I asked my parents. My dad was getting a new job and my mom was going to get a new one too. My sisters were asking questions and seemed excited. Inside though, I knew that all of us were going to miss Crystal Falls and everyone, everything, and every place more than anything.

On the moving day, we packed up all the stuff and put it all into the truck. As we were driving past our house out of Crystal Falls, I really realized what people meant when they said they left part of themselves in the old place that they used to live in.

Once we got to Marquette, I thought, “Well, at least I have some memories here.” Inside the new house, it felt empty and blank. All I wanted to do was go back to my old house, lay on my bed, and process all of this.

We went to my cousin’s house after that, Molly and Stephen, and had dinner with them. I felt a little bit better being with people that we knew and that we were close to. We talked about life in Marquette. I didn’t really want to listen, but if I was ever going to make friends here and thrive, then I needed to cooperate.

On the first day of school, it didn’t really feel like I fit in. There were 250 6th graders there! Then I saw my friends from camp, Isla and Harlow. It was so nice to see people I actually knew. They introduced me to other people who were soon going to be some of my good friends too. Their names are Ellia, Camilla, and Luna.

A few months later, I was thriving and having lots of fun each day. I knew my class members, and every day with the class was fun. I was friends with lots of people, which was exciting for me. Having friends in Marquette was fun and made school feel like I belonged.

Nowadays, Marquette is so fun! There are so many activities to do and so many opportunities. I will always have a home in Crystal Falls where I belong too, and I will always have a part of me still there. Sometimes though, when you are given a chance to have new friends and relationships with people, take the risk. It’s worth it. When you open up, you’ll see that the world has so many things to offer. If you stay in one place, you will never have the opportunity to try something new. So live your life to the fullest, have fun, take all the opportunities you can, and just be, because there is more to the world than the eye can see.

EDITORS NOTE: Emma Ziegler is in 6th grade. She loves to bike, ski, run, and have lots of fun with her friends.