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The treasure chest
Losing your tooth was a really cool thing in first grade. Everyone wanted to lose one in school so they could go to the nurse to get this tiny treasure chest to put your tooth into. When my day came I made my way down the hall holding my tooth firmly. All of a sudden I drop it and down it falls into the radiator. I panic. Searching and searching but finding nothing. This was the first time learning that when you lose something it may never come back some things are unchangeable. -
The Emu
I absolutely loved the farm at summer camp. One summer an emu was brought to the camp farm. My group was given the opportunity to go into the pen with the emu. Before going in my counselor warned us not to run because the emu would think it was a game and chase after you. When we went in the emu came over to me curiously. I became absolutely terrified and ran for my life. Luckily I escaped unharmed but it was the first time that I really understood the importance of listening to others. -
Earning it
When my neighbors go away it is my responsibility to look after their house. I feed their pets, get their mail, water the plants and look after everything. My first time having this responsibility I took it very seriously. I would make sure to go over a few times a day and felt very grown up. When they returned they paid me thirty dollars. I was so proud I had been responsible and worked very hard doing everything I was told and felt it pay off. This was my first time really earning money. -
Modified basketball
I had been playing basketball for around three years when modified basketball tryouts rolled around. I was pretty confident in myself and tried my hardest at tryouts. When the list of names was posted on Google Classroom and mine was not there I was absolutely crushed. I had never been flat out rejected from anything before. Now looking back I am glad that I was cut. I was forced to realize that things don't always go your way and that it's ok to be terrible at something, nobody's perfect. -
Uniform Day
The night before my first ROTC uniform day I couldn't sleep. My head filled with anxiety over what people would say or think about me. That morning I begged my mom to drive me in because I refused to get on the bus As the day continued as I expected I received a few looks and comments making jokes. As each Thursday passed I began to get used to the uniform I slowly began to become more comfortable wearing it. I have become more confident in myself and care less about what others think. -
The call
When lacrosse tryouts began freshman year I really wanted to make varsity. It had been a goal of mine and I worked extremely hard at tryouts and in pre-season. After tryouts I received a call from the varsity coach telling me that she believed I should be on the team. I had never felt so proud of myself. All my hours practices and workouts had been recognized. While the season never truly happened because of covid I am still proud of my accomplishment and saw my hard work truly pay off. -
The first game
I have been playing soccer since elementary school so when I started reffing I assumed it would be simple. My first game I ref first and second graders and didn't seem to do anything right. Every call I made I heard moans from parents and comments from parents who wanted the opposite. I walked off the field and was absolutely crushed. As I continued to ref more and become more familiar my confidence boomed. I became more decisive and wouldn't let rude parents impact me or my decisions. -
Ruby
May 2021 my mom took my cat Ruby and my other cat to the vet for their annual shots. They returned home and Ruby was not acting like herself. The next day my dad had found that she had passed. I was absolutely devastated she was just two years old. As we come to learn later my cats doses had been switched and see had a deadly reaction. While I miss Ruby dearly this incident has given me that perspective of how unpredictable life can be and how you must love those around you while you can. -
The Parks
During the summer of 2021 my family and I took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The park was beautiful and I saw wildlife that I'd never seen before. While out there I learned that many of the employees were college students who spent there summers working in the parks through a program. I have made it a goal of mine to take part in that program and work in a National Park one summer. It has been the first true long time goal that I have made and has pushed me to continue to work hard. -
Coaching youth soccer
I've been helping coach youth soccer since the fall of my freshman year. I've grown relationships with many of there players and seen them become more comfortable around me. Halloween 2021 I was handing out candy when a player walked up. His parents were behind him who called out my name. They began to praise me for how well I had been doing and how there son couldn't wait to go every weekend. It made me feel so important I had been part of the reason that he loves soccer I made an impact. -
Not what but who
As a nurse and mother my grandma spent years taking care of others. She met Sybil a woman a few years shy of a hundred when she moved into her new apartment. She looked out for Sybil getting her mail and always checking in, becoming great friends. Sybil passed in December 2021. My grandma and I spent time going through Sybils old pictures a few weeks later. She became really emotional and I saw how much she cared for Sybil. I saw real the importance of having people in your life you care about.