The Secret Life of a Florida Teen

Ariyani Thompkins | April 16, 2024 | The Spring supplemental

Jacksonville Beach

“I go to the beach often, taking pictures with my camera, and I never get tired of it. I think it’s just that even though it was freezing, the air is cold, and the water is even worse, but its oddly therapeutic, it shocks me into reality and makes me think about things. I complain about the sand and everything else, but the scenery is everything.”

Mia Santos, 17.

Silver Glen Springs

”The springs were really pretty, it was the first time I was able to see my feet in the water, it’s the clearest water I’ve ever seen.”

Kamea Narain, 18.

“I felt stress free, like I was in a euphoric state. With my closest friends, we went on a brisk walk as tall trees hung down over the trail creating a beautiful archway. We walked along a wide-reaching lake; it was a memorable experience.”

Ava Wilson, 18.

Osceola National Park

“It’s like an adventure, going all the way out of town and into the woods, once we got cars and freedom, it became even better to go on those adventures with my friends. We don’t live in like a big city like NYC, but being in the woods is just different regardless, it’s dark and eerie and the woods go for miles, but its peaceful, and you see the things you would never see in Jacksonville.”

Brenden Reed, 18.