On Aug. 21, 2017, I along with many Americans across the country witnessed the totality of a solar eclipse, something that was in all sense of the term, a once in a lifetime experience.

This solar eclipse was especially unique because the last one that was across America from the east coast to the west coast happened in 1918. This makes it special because that means most of the people that saw the last eclipse from coast to coast aren’t around anymore. This truly makes it a spectacle worth traveling thousands of miles for.

I was lucky enough to travel to Corvallis, Oregon home of the Oregon State Beavers to witness the eclipse. When asked about why we chose to go see the eclipse and travel all that way my grandma said, “Not only did it line up with birthdays but it was an experience that we couldn’t miss.” Corvallis also was residing within the path of totality of the eclipse which means that the sun would be completely covered by the moon. However, you can’t just stare at the sun before it’s completely covered so you needed special glasses to look at the sun. While wearing the glasses you weren’t able to see anything in front of your face. The only thing you could see was the sun in the sky, the photos I took on the right show exactly how the sun looked through the glasses.

Corvallis also was residing within the path of totality of the eclipse which means that the sun would be completely covered by the moon. However, you can’t just stare at the sun before it’s completely covered so you needed special glasses to look at the sun. While wearing the glasses you weren’t able to see anything in front of your face. The only thing you could see was the sun in the sky.he photos I took on the right show exactly how the sun looked through the glasses.

The photos I took show exactly how the sun looked through the glasses.

The first thing we saw, which was how we knew the eclipse was starting was, a little bite taken out of the sun. And this bite kept getting bigger and bigger until you could make out the moon. But the most spectacular part of the eclipse was the totality when the moon completely covers the sun.

When this happened it was almost like it was 7 pm. Birds started flying around, you could hear confused dogs throughout the neighborhood, and everyone in my family became apes with the sudden roar of “oohs and awes.” But the sun was stunning, it turned blue behind the moon and you could see the sun’s rays behind the moon. The best photo that was grabbed that day of the totality is to the right, but it does it no justice.

Overall it was an amazing experience that I don’t think I’ll ever see again but was well worth my time as well as missing school. Pictures and words just don’t do it justice.