To everyone who has ever encouraged me:
Thank you.
Even if you didn’t think you were helping me, you were. Every moment of my life has helped me become the person I am today, and I’m so grateful for that. The ups and the downs, the goods and the bads. Every person I’ve met throughout my life has helped shape me in some form or fashion, and because of that, I am a strong and independent young adult with the highest of hopes and dreams.
Some of you have been a part of my success from day one, meaning the first day of my existence, and my thanks for that are long overdue. You’re all my family, and the closest people I could ever be with. You’ve encouraged me, supported me, and helped me achieve my success. Thank you for driving me back and forth to practices and performances. All the lessons, rehearsals, and competitions would never have been possible without your help. I’ve done some pretty cool stuff in my life, and I have all of you to thank for it.
Even the family members who are younger than me have had my back from day one. I know that I can count on my awesome cousins to have my back. They’ve stood by my side even when I had a crazy unrealistic idea and stood by me until I saw that dream come true. I constantly think about you all and how much you have shaped me into the person I am today.
I’ve met a lot of teachers throughout my life. All of you have influenced me in some specific way; even outside of whatever you were teaching me. I learned passion, love, and patience from all of you. You’ve helped me stay calm in auditions when I thought I would shake to death, and you’ve all given me pep talks to calm my nerves and anxieties about certain situations. From schoolteachers to private instructors, you all played a hand in shaping me. You showed me love and encouragement, and knew how to help me grow. I can’t thank you enough for that.
To the people who pushed me to go my farthest: you know who you are. I left home and traveled to the other end of the state for school. College has been my escape, and my true self has become visible here, and I can’t thank the people I went to high school enough for pushing me to go so far. Theoretically, I could be attending a university and be living at home with my family still, but I am so much happier at my new school. I had a fresh start that allowed me to make new friends and new connections without relying on people that I already knew from my high school. If it weren’t for you, I would have never ended up in Cullowhee. I would have never met my fraternity sisters. I would have never met my best friends in the entire world. I know that I’m now so much more than anyone ever thought I would be, and it’s all thanks to you all. Thank you for pushing me to go the farthest. I chased crazy dreams and have had so much success, and it’s all thanks to you.
Sincerely yours,
Your Quietest Classmate
