Emerly Lee – Week 13: Blue Curing Blues

The fresh scent of the salty, sandy beach paired with the rhythmic sound of the waves as they clash one by one under a cloudy sky will always be my comfort destination. Maybe it's the nostalgic memories of sitting by the beach with my friends in the summer or maybe it's the weekend trips with my family as a kid that makes the beach so comforting. 


Junior year has served as one of the hardest times in academics for me personally and maybe you as well. From the tests that sometimes feel back to back plotted, to the major projects in challenging subjects that make our brain feel as though it is about to explode. These feelings encapsulate our academic experiences and lead us to forget about our own sanity. So much so that I believe we forget to care for ourselves and take time to find activities past its merit that bring us bliss.  


That’s why when the time comes around and I am especially drained I like to take a trip down memory lane (literally). San Francisco's Ocean Beach is especially my favorite to visit because of its quiet nature and cloudy skies that make it wonderful to enjoy. The eerie silence for once is not as creepy and closer to calming when compared to other beaches that are often filled with loud chatter. The cloudy ambiance also serves perfect as I watch the waves without a fear of a blazing sun above my head. The nostalgia held on the beach is like a safekeeping to all my clearest and most memorable moments. 


In these times of distress what cures your blues?  






Comments

  1. Raghav DagaMarch 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Emerly! As we all go through junior year together, the pressure of academic success and countless extracurricular activities does end up piling, and I too often forget to take much needed breaks. I think that the best break for me is just taking a day to play all the video games I used to play as a kid; I have not used my PS4 in the past two and a half years and it has gathered countless layers of dust just waiting for me to take a break for the pressure of junior year. Reading the sensory imagery that you began with hooked me into your message and evoked a sense of nostalgia. Your reflective tone and inclusion of personal experiences made your subject relatable and powerful. While I am someone who enjoys the sun more than cloudy areas, your love for the calm natural scene of a dim beach sky embodies the kind of break that we all need from our busy lives. By forgetting about the fast paced life where we try to get as much done in a single day and instead focusing on the slow moving clouds in the sky really evokes a sense of relaxation that is unparalleled, something you explored excellently in your blog.

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  2. Kaden KhauMarch 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM

    Hi Emerly! I really resonated with the second paragraph in your blog as we go through the hardest year of high school together and the pressure of academics along with other things we do to tried to get into our dream college, I feel like we all forget to take breaks and refresh ourselves from time to time. That's why for when I feel like I need to take a break, I plan a group trips with friends to Sand Francisco and take a stroll to wherever we haven't been before and just explore the place. That is when I let go of everything academic and just enjoy the time I spend with friends and create memories. Reading the imagery throughout your blog made me feel like I was in the moment you were experiencing and also created a sense of nostalgia for me, as for when I kid during the summer timer, I used to go to Santa Cruz all the time with my parents and just walk along the beach and spent time with them. Your blog really made me realize how we all need breaks and just enjoy the time we get when those breaks happen. Thank you for sharing your blog!

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  3. Leila AlabedMarch 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM

    Hi, Emerly! I can agree with the overwhelming academic pressure of junior year that you mentioned in your blog. I often feel that the homework seems to never end, and that there are always more tests to study for. However, it is important to take breaks. When I take a break from my work, I usually sketch on my iPad, or play video games. It helps to take my mind off of the pressure of all my homework, even if it is only temporarily. I like how you described the nostalgic feeling you get when in San Francisco. I get a similar feeling whenever I spend time outdoors with family or friends, the freedom and energy makes me feel like a little kid again. I enjoyed reading this blog and I am excited to read more by you! Keep up the great work!

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