Editor’s Note: Hannah Bright is the daughter of Angel Island’s Park Maintenance Chief, and she was kind enough to write this first-person account of teen life on (and off) the island.
Although Tiburon can be seen just a mile away from Angel Island, it might as well be 100 miles away if you don’t have a boat to get there. Photo by Joel Williams
By Hannah Bright
Published: January, 2009
Hey, what’s up, wanna chill? Spontaneity—what a concept. Living on Angel Island, I have almost forgotten the meaning of the word.
Like most normal 16-year-olds, my favorite thing to do is to spend time with my friends. It’s not that complicated. However, this normal, everyday occurrence has become quite an affair for me. The last scheduled boat run leaves at 5:30 p.m. every day—I am the only teenager I know with a 5:30 curfew. Teenagers are not creatures of planning ahead, but living on Angel Island has forced me to mature and learn how to prioritize my life.
Living here gives me the opportunity to cut myself off completely from the world. In addition to the isolation of my physical location, I also lack Internet and TV. This can be an extreme and very frustrating situation, but it also lets me experience total relaxation. Lots of people search for this opportunity and long for the ability to disconnect from the world… but most of these people are old. That’s not to say that it isn’t nice, but it’s something better experienced in small doses. As challenging and lonely as this seclusion can be for a social and outgoing teenager, it has really made me get to know myself. I am much more comfortable in my own skin.
So, I can deal with being alone, but what really gets to me is the planning ahead. I never used to make plans ahead of time; it was always just waiting to see what was happening and deciding on the spot. Being spontaneous was just part of my personality. Now, in my current situation, if I want to do something as simple as seeing a movie, I have to plan a week ahead of time. And even then, I am only able to go if one of our boat operators is available and willing.
One of the bright spots is that my fellow residents on the island are extremely supportive and empathetic. They know it’s hard on me and they do everything they can to help me out. Whether it’s a late boat run, or some time doing homework on their computers, they are always there for me. Moving here was like being adopted into a large loving family; the people are one of the greatest benefits of living on the island.
Living on the island has also presented some issues with extracurricular activities. Before I lived on the island, I was very involved in school. It was easy to participate in activities such as student council and athletics; now, activities like these provide more of a challenge than a reward. I am currently involved in a volunteer program known as Amigos, and meetings for this program happen at 6-8:30 p.m. on Mondays. On these nights, my mother and I attend the meetings in San Rafael, then leave early to catch a ride home on the Woote, a small dingy driven by state park ranger, friend and fellow resident Jack Duggan.
All in all, living on Angel Island has its ups and downs. I haven’t yet decided whether or not the ups outweigh the downs, but I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s the life I’m living and I’m proud to say I am enjoying it, no matter how much of an effort it takes.
