July 8th, 2016

Recently, I’ve been staring at the piles of graduation cards on my bed, each waiting patiently for their own response. I look at them, and sometimes they seem to stare right back at me, saying “why haven’t you sent thank you cards yet?” “Are you ungrateful?”

This jetlag-fueled procrastination has got me thinking, has brought back a feeling I felt a month ago as I was surrounded by family. I had so many people from so many different backgrounds travel so far just to sit in the June sun and watch me walk across the stage in a rose-colored trash bag. But a proud trash bag, at least. My family and friends drove hours to see me, just to celebrate finally leaving the hell that was high school and to ask me about my plans for the future and to encourage me to reach for all my ambitious goals. I felt immensely loved and cared for, and I remember looking around the backyard table at all these wonderful people, and even though I didn’t want to make a speech, I felt in my heart all the sentiment that comes with a speech. I knew what I would say to them, but I knew the feeling of belonging and being accepted was an emotion not so easily expressed through words. I didn’t want to get all mushy, I already felt too mushy on the inside, so I passed on the speech.

Now I’m sitting here writing all these thank you notes, and I am so lucky to have so many things, and people, to be thankful for. People that I did not think I had any real affect on were sending me cards of congrats and advice for the future. Family Friends I had not seen in years were contacting me, a reminder of the good ol’ days in a time where the future seems to be everything. I could not have dreamed of a better family, a more secure and loving group of people, there is no way I could have improved upon this family. My family is truly a special group, and these people are without a doubt some of the strongest and wackiest people I have ever had the privilege to know. These are my role models, who from their generosity and love did so much for me, whether they realize it or not. The past few months have honestly been a lesson in the importance of family, of friends, of the group of people that will always have your back and have something to teach you. I have had the best teachers any one child could ask for, and here they are, supporting me again. Thank you cards are not enough.