Journalism I student Jack Rumfelt stands with his family at Holden Beach, his grandparents’ former home. Though Rumfelt’s grandparents moved from Holden Beach in 2021, a decision he was devastated by, he learned an important lesson. “Although my heart was broken, it taught me an important lesson; that sometimes you have to let go of things. I applied this to so many more things in my life, and I think that everyone can,” Rumfelt wrote. Illustration by Sylvia Robinson
Journalism I student Jack Rumfelt writes about his relationship to Holden Beach.
As a kid, I grew up going to a beach in North Carolina called Holden Beach every summer. My grandparents owned a beach house there and going to it so much made it like my second home. With each trip we took, I was filled with joy, leaving me with so many memories. No matter how I was feeling, I would always have a good time there, it was my happy place. Walks on the beach, going to the arcade, fishing, no matter what we were doing, I had always had fun at Holden.
Although my heart was broken, it taught me an important lesson; sometimes you have to let go of things.
In 2021, my grandparents decided to move. I was devastated. What was I going to do? Would I ever see Holden Beach again? Was I going to die? Well, luckily, I didn’t die but I haven’t seen Holden Beach again.
Although my heart was broken, it taught me an important lesson; sometimes you have to let go of things. I applied this to so many more things in my life, and I think that everyone can. Moving on is something that everyone has to do and my way of learning was leaving Holden Beach. Even though I miss it, my memories will always be there. I’ve thought about it ever since, and I’ve come to the conclusion that maybe moving was for the better.
My grandparents are about 20 minutes away now instead of a 7-hour drive and I get to see them every week. Maybe my grandparents moving was for the better, but Holden Beach will always have a warm place in my heart.
