To those who believed in me first,

First, I would like to start off by acknowledging I would NOT be where I am or who I am without these people in my life.

Thank you to anyone who has ever encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone. While it seems like a safe and cozy place to be, I know I would not have met some of the most inspiring people I now know today. I would not have experienced some of the most challenging yet empowering moments of my life.

A big thank you to any person who has ever thought highly enough of me to offer me any sort of leadership position or job. (I know at times I may not seem to be the most promising candidate so thanks for giving me that chance). These people guided me through it all. They did not set me up to fail. Never along the way did I feel misguided or helpless. I would also like to offer an apology for anytime I have fallen short of expectations because I am well aware that I have.

By offering these opportunities to me, over time I have grown to believe more and more in myself. I know that I will sometimes be a little subpar and sometimes maybe just mediocre but hopefully one day I can step up my game and really succeed in whatever mission I am meant to tackle.

Family, employers, teachers, coworkers, friends, members of my church, colleagues, and baristas at a coffee shop... these are only some of the countless people who have in some way, shape, or form pushed me to keep going, to go the extra mile, to not settle.

These people are attentive. They pick up on the slightest signals of my weakness and build me up from there rather than tearing me down. These are the people we need in our lives, people who are aware of our strengths and weaknesses but don't use them against us; people who genuinely care. These are the people we should surround ourselves with, the selfless, the positive, the empowering.

In closing, I would like to mention a few people specifically.. mom, dad, my younger brother, grandma, grandpa, my yearbook teacher from high school, both the current and former youth leader of my home church, my roommate, my boyfriend, my favorite professors, my managers at work, the editors of my school newspapers, as well as the leaders on my university's Odyssey team.

Thank you,

A college student established by caring and supportive people