Today's topic is a doozy. Mental health has been part of my story for a long time. My journey with anxiety and depression started back in 2016, and while there have been seasons where I've felt strong and like I finally had everythin g under control, it's been something I've continued to battle over the years—especially during COVID. I've learned how to recognize my triggers, how to manage it (most of the time), and how to give myself grace when things get hard. Because of th

As I sit in my classroom after a very long week of state testing, I’m exhausted. My room is hot, there’s trash everywhere, and the only thing on my mind is the salt water and soft sand of Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Where is Topsail Beach? Or Surf City? As you move closer to island time on North Carolina’s east coast, you enter Surf City. Nestled between Topsail Beach to the south and North Topsail Beach to the north, Surf City sits between Wilmington and Jacksonville. The