While most teens are counting down the days to their 18th birthday with cakes and candles, Emporia’s Avery Evins is counting something a little different — states, countries and continents.

Avery, who turns 18 on Dec. 11, has spent more than a decade joyfully collecting birthday cards from across the United States and around the world. What started as a small family tradition has grown into a full-blown geography lesson, math project and global scavenger hunt rolled into one.

Each card gets charted, graphed, logged and pinned. Maps fill with colorful dots. Points get added, totals recalculated. Avery tracks every card’s journey as if she’s running mission control for the postal service.

Last year’s high mark? 571 cards and 25 states.

This year’s goal? Every U.S. state — all 50 — plus a

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