From as early as I can remember, I traveled to Florida to get away from this town. I lived in Newton, New Jersey until the first grade. Then I moved to Wantage. The towns are only 15 minutes apart and both in Sussex County, but they are quite distinct. Newton offers an urban/suburban feel, whereas Wantage is very rural.  When I transferred to my new elementary school, I didn’t realize how different it would be. It was not rare for people to make jokes about someone's ethnicity or culture, which made me uncomfortable. As I grew up, some people would go out of their way to say things about my race. They sometimes made fun of the color of my skin or the way my hair was different from that of other students. I still live in the area as a high school student. Especially after traveling, I now notice that my community isn’t a very diverse place, which I didn’t pay attention to when I was younger.

Growing up, my mom, my brother and I traveled together. We’ve visited many places, including the Bahamas and New York. However, Florida has always been our favorite place to travel together. The trips were mainly for fun or to visit family. We would drive instead of flying, which was what made it so unique. The first time I remember driving to Florida was when I was seven years old. I specifically remember the three of us yelling the lyrics of “Stacy’s Mom,” by Fountains of Wayne, as my mom drove. We had to mentally prepare for the drive to Florida from New Jersey. It takes 20 hours to drive straight through, so realistically, it takes about two days--two days of your limbs being squished in a car. I didn’t enjoy the drive down, but I survived with my airpods. We observed many changes during the trip--geographical differences, distinct housing, shifts in weather, and socioeconomic diversity, among others.

Upon arriving in Florida, it felt like a breath of fresh air. My brother and I patiently waited in the car as my mom checked into the hotel. She would always find the nicest places to stay near the beach, and they always had a pool. I remember sitting poolside, sipping on a non-alcoholic piña colada. We preferred to stay near the east coast of Florida by Miami. I noticed the significant difference in diversity from Sussex to Miami. In Miami, many people of different races and ethnicities and distinct cultural backgrounds reside, which doesn’t exist in Sussex in the same way.

Sussex County is predominantly White, and only about three percent of its population is Black or African-American. For someone growing up in a town with few people to relate to, it can be difficult. My travels through various parts of the East Coast of the United States en route to Florida made me realize how different the “outside world” is from Sussex County. Not all places are filled with fields and farms, but instead filled with bright city lights and significantly more people. Whereas where I live is quiet and boring, in my opinion, the people who live in the places I visited in Florida seemed more energetic and upbeat. I also do not like the cold New Jersey winters, which is why Florida’s sunshine and warmth appeal to me.  Although I have some great memories from growing up where I did, I’m also yearning to experience something different. My travels to new places made me realize how much I would rather live somewhere else. After I graduate, I plan on attending college and hopefully, spending the rest of my life in Florida.

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