Solar Eclipse

Recently, there was a solar eclipse in America on Saturday, October 14, 2023 (see images at the end of my post). This is not my first solar eclipse. I remember the day I saw my first solar eclipse.

I was a freshman in high school when I saw the total solar eclipse on my school’s football field (see image at the end of my post). Classes ended early, the school hired several food trucks to stay on campus, glasses were handed out to every student (I still have mine from the day), and all of the students sat on the field to have a massive picnic. All of the kids ran around and sang all of the songs on the loudspeaker; it was the happiest I had seen everyone during my entire high school career. When the sun was fully blocked, the temperature dropped, and so did the volume on the field. The speakers began to play “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler, and everyone watched in awe at the moon and sun together.

Although the eclipse this year was not full, it was surreal to reflect on that day and how much had changed within 6 years. Since the total eclipse, I graduated high school, began college, started and quit a job, watched all of my friends move away to college, gained new friends, lost some of them, found new interests, cut my hair, dyed my hair (still shocked I finally did that), and so much more. As a junior in college reflecting on myself from the beginning of high school, I am proud of what she has done and what she has endured. I got to see her again, just as the moon could see the sun again.