A summer on Vashon brings many lessons

Published 4:06 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2015

My name is Paige Lazar, and I am a currently a civil engineering student at the University of Dayton, Ohio. I spent this summer interning at Burn Design Lab, a nonprofit company located on the island. Thank you, Vashon, for giving me a summer to remember. You will always hold a special place in my heart.

Ten life lessons I learned from living on Vashon Island:

1. Do not look back. Keep moving forward, especially if you are biking up the north-end ferry hill.

2. There is a sunrise and sunset every single day. Don’t miss so many of them.

3. Do not be afraid to go out on a limb and take a leap of faith (or go out on a dock and jump into Tramp Harbor).

4. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure (Thanks, Granny’s).

5. Do not judge a book by its cover. Sporty’s actually does have cold, delicious beer.

6. Trust others. Hitchhiking is convenient.

7. Support one another. Buy produce from your neighbor.

8. Sharing is caring, especially on the road, especially with bikers and especially with deer.

9. Strangers are one “hello” away from becoming friends.

10. Don’t sweat the small stuff. If you miss the boat, another ferry is always on the way.

— Paige Lazar