After turning 18 recently, I wanted to reflect on my “youth,” and got to thinking about the people who had helped me get to adulthood. I have thought about them a lot lately, as I will also be leaving almost all of them in two short months. Most of my close friends and family I try to tell regularly how much they mean to me and how much I love them, but there are some people who I haven’t gotten to share that with yet. They’ve taught me so much that I feel I can’t just leave their thank you’s unsaid; so, without further ado, here are some of the the things I’ve learned and the people I have yet to recognize for teaching them to me.
1. Allie Bonney — Accepting that people pass.
When our friendship ended, I was pretty devastated for a while. This was the girl who had been my best friend and next door neighbor for years, and after she moved away and transferred schools, it was basically the end of our relationship. But moving on from that helped me see that my other friends were just as amazing, and that Allie and I had taught each other all we had to teach, and that was okay.
2. Kevin Pope — Knowing your worth.
When we began dating my freshman year of high school, I had no idea that our relationship would take the sorts of turns that it did. Dating on and off for over two years was stressful (probably even more so for him), but his constant care even in the “off periods” showed me that I was worth being loved by someone, which I had not believed before.
3. Ellie Siebert — Having courage to speak.
I was that quiet girl in the back of the classroom for a long time. I would blurt something out every once and a while, but being wrong immediately shut down any desire I had to answer anything in class. That is, until Ellie proved to me why speaking out is valuable. Her courage to voice her opinions in class, to her friends, and in general showed me that voices are meant to be heard, not suppressed by fear.
4. Molly Dlugos — Accepting the quirky.
My dear, dear Molly and I are both head over heels for cats of all kinds. Molly also loves to dance, to wear flowy clothing, and to giggle. Her quirks are my favorite part about her, and the way she shines when she acknowledges them makes me smile like nothing else. Through that, I now own the fact that I have weird sayings, can recite lyrics from any country song, and can quote almost every Mythbusters.
5. Senthuri Vasanthan - Having a zest for life.
Before meeting Senthuri, I took so many things for granted. However, once we began to become close, she showed me that life was precious and none of it is to be wasted. I know that life is to be embraced in the good, bad, and awful, and that every second matters.
6. Mr. Brad Anderson — Being gritty.
At the beginning of Mr. Anderson’s world history class, I thought that Monday Motivation was simply a good way to waste class time, and that his daily speeches about grit and perseverance were simply fillers for the minutes he didn’t slot teaching for. But what I came to realize is that being gritty can really get you through almost anything, and it can earn you loads of respect.
7. Jordan George — How to mend friendships.
While many look at Jordan and I and see two good friends, only a few know the story behind our ups and downs. We have admittedly had some rough patches, but we’ve only come out stronger because of them. Because of him, I know that you should never throw away a great friendship without at least giving it everything you have to make things work (as in any relationship). Having him has meant the world, and it’s because we learned to get through the bad times and focus on the good.
8. Mrs. Fisk and Mrs. Johnson — The importance of other families.
I try to tell my family as much as I can how much they mean to me, but with a family on the go as much as mine, sometimes you fall to other families to rely on as your own. The Fisks and Johnsons have all become like blood to me, and give evidence to the mantra that “it takes a village to raise a child.”
9. Libby Bradford and Kayla Terhorst — How to be nurturing.
As a little sophomore simply trying to escape the underclassman stage, I looked up to seniors with everything in me. These two were like the moms I needed at that time, and taking after these mother ducks in my later years of high school was my goal and my honor.
10. Gabi Dykema — Being unapologetically you.
Every morning of senior year, Gabi walked in with a coffee in mind and an opinion on the tip of her tongue. She loved discussions, but no one questioned her because if they did, she would set them straight, or at least argue her best. She was an icon in our school because she embraced every part of her personality and showed her true self to everyone around her, and her unapologetic enthusiasm taught me to be proud of who I am, too.
11. Felicity Buchmaier and Ally Stapleton — Modesty, no matter how good you are.
These people are two of the absolute best at what they do. A college runner and journalism wizard and an Australian Olympic Trials swimmer as a sophomore, they are talented beyond belief. They are also two of the kindest, most thoughtful, and modest people around. To me, this shows that no matter what, being humble is key.
12. Max Kuiper — The importance of a good heart.
As a cousin my age, Max and I have gone through an eternity of school together while keeping tabs on the others in our grade. The one thing I have gathered from my peers is that Max was known for having a heart always in the right place, and I love so much that that is part of what he is remembered for because I agree 110%. He is my proof that a kind heart always wins.
13. Veronica Edgar — Deep thinking.
One day in the middle of my literature class, Veronica piped up and asked simply, “Do you think everyone has a soulmate?” From that moment on, I have so admired her ability to think outside of herself and look deeper into parts of life we often shy away from studying. Her topics of discussion have pushed my mind and made me think like I hadn’t before, which I think is important to growing up.
14. Irene Yi — Fearlessness.
Watching this sweet little sophomore walk into a senior literature class, I was struck by her confidence as she sat down and began chatting with the upperclassmen all around her. ‘Does this girl have no fear?’ I asked myself as she proceeded to answer all of my teacher’s advanced questions with grace and accuracy. Being in that setting, her fearlessness of others’ perceptions of her and ability to thrive under what must have been scary circumstances inspired me every day.
15. Sam Dolphin — How to be giving.
At least once a week, a plate of cookies would sit on a table in my calculus class fresh out of Sam’s kitchen. During exam week, he tutored all of us confused with the BC material free of charge. And he always offered anything to anyone if they needed it, no questions asked. His kind heart was always the first in line to help, and everyone looked up to him for it.
16. Emily Jenkins — Pursuing passions.
I know very few people who have started a district-wide environmental project in high school. I know very few people who would take their summer to travel to an island school to learn about marine biology. I know very few people willing to pack up and go cross country to study the earth in the beautiful setting of California. And I know only one girl who has relentlessly gone after her passion in all of these ways and more.
17. Grace Kraimer — Poise in all situations.
Somehow, Grace is always cool, calm, and collected. Her eloquent speech even after dying from a 2k has always amazed me, and her grace (pun intended) and maturity at such a young age inspires me everyday to get my life together, or at least try to reach her level of impressive poise.
18. Humzah Azeem — Taking responsibility.
Humzah will be the first to tell you when he does something wrong. Humzah will always be the one to know his boundaries after they have been set, and know what lines to cross and which to stay away from when a lot is on the line. His ability to take matters into his own hands and keep blame away from anyone who doesn’t deserve it shows a level of maturity that I aspire to reach one day.
So I hope you all can accept this weak form of a “thank you,” even if I never get to really say it. All of your lessons will be with me, and I hope I can do you all justice as I try to follow them.
