The pandemic is still among us, but it is noticeably lighter than this time last year. Warren County High School sophomore Emma Cathcart said she didn’t do too much this summer, but she kept busy.

“I visited my family in Louisiana this year,” she said. There she went to a gator farm and a swamp tour. She has been to Louisiana before to visit, but this year allowed her and her family more freedom and comfort when visiting.

Emma also kept busy with the return of her dance classes at Paula’s Dance Academy. She has attended there four years and has danced for 10. “This might actually be my 11th year dancing,” she said, “I don’t know. It’s been a long time, though.”

Emma is ready for this school year after spending her freshman year engulfed in a pandemic. “I am most excited about seeing my friends,” she said.

Her mother Susan agreed with Emma’s excitement adding, “It’s nice to actually see things and to be able to enter the building. I want Emma to have the full high school experience.” 

Emma added, “I’m also just excited for school because school is just fun.”

Emma said she didn’t have much planned for the rest of the summer until her mother reminded her, “You’re leaving for Ohio tomorrow.”

Maybe Emma has more scheduled this summer than she thought, but she remembered and said she is very excited to be able to travel one last time before school.