One part of the summer bridge that I particularly liked was the trip to Tangier Island.  Before our trip, I had never heard of the island but it changed the way I look at the world.  Tangier Island is roughly one square mile and is packed with over 700 residents.  It is so refreshing seeing how tightly knit their small community is.  Children were seen playing in yards and riding their bikes up and down the streets without a parent in sight.  When asked, teenagers told us that nothing bad ever happens on the island. So their parents allow them to roam the island by themselves.  They truly felt safe in their town and believe that is as peaceful as a sanctuary.  In the world that we live in today with so many controversies and violence, it is hard to believe that a place exists where it is truly safe. Even when I was in high school, my parents had strict control over where I went and who I went with. I was never allowed to walk outside of my neighborhood and not allowed outside at night. It is amazing to see the differences that a community can have on a child’s life.