Many people can boast of visiting fifteen or so states, but how many can say they have been in all 50 – and before they start high school? Current North Penn senior Sammi Paul achieved her goal of visiting all 50 states in the summer of 2011, an accomplishment that brought with it many fond and unique memories.
After two cross country road trips in her family’s motor home, Paul only had a few more states to visit, the last of which ended up being Alaska. With the promise of a trip from her grandmother, Paul got to travel to Alaska – after first asking to go to China – just before she began tenth grade.
“It was a pretty incredible feeling because not only had I been to all 50 states, I had been to Alaska before my dad had been there. We had a friendly competition going on as to who would get there first,” commented Paul. She is also proud to be the only one in her family thus far to have been in all 50 states.
Seeing Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America and located in Alaska, was a sight Paul will remember for a very long time. She explains that usually the mountain is obscured by clouds, but she was able to see the breathtaking sight clearly three times during her stay in Alaska.
When her family was only able to see a small part of a state the first time they drove through, they planned whole trips to experience a state fully. When she went back to Kansas, Paul was surprised at how much the state had to offer. She saw the largest ball of twine and went to a town which was themed like the Wizard of Oz. She’s also taken a trip solely for Michigan, traveling to the upper peninsula and experiencing all Michigan had to offer along the way back.
Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington are three of her favorite states she has visited. Speaking to their unique beauty, Paul stated “I would go back to visit them all again if I could.” On the top of the list to return to is Hawaii, as she was very young when she travelled there for her aunt and uncle’s wedding.
Some states did not hold the allure or excitement of others; Connecticut is not a state Paul will be revisiting soon.
“It’s small with not much to do. There is also a ton of traffic because a lot of people drive to jobs in New York from Connecticut. There was also a lot of construction, which can get pretty interesting in a large motor home.”
When she is not travelling across the country, Paul stays active in the North Penn community. As president of International Friendship Club, she plans meetings and holds events to help exchange students truly experience America. Her family hosts an exchange student, Marina Schunemann, an experience they are well versed in as they hosted an exchange student four years ago. “It has definitely been a lot of fun hosting Marina. We are completely different people, so I think that works out well because we don’t get too tired of each other,” Paul commented.
A cabinet member of National Honor Society and seasoned player in Powderpuff, Paul participates in various school activities. She has played soccer since she was only five years old and has been a longtime Girl Scout since kindergarten. Throughout the winter, Paul is a part of a program with the Philadelphia Phillies called Phillies Explorers.
Gathering unforgettable memories during her cross country trips and stays in far off states, Sammi Paul’s unique experiences will only continue to multiply as she revisits stand-out sites and remote locations.