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Being that most of my cousins are very close to my age, the birth of my cousin Avery was the first birth that I could actually remember. I woke up that summer morning as my mom came to tell me that I had a new baby cousin. My entire family went to the hospital later that day where we were able to see catch up with one another and meet the new addition to the family for the first time. Ever since she was born, I have been able to watch her grow up into the amazing girl that she is today.
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I met my best friend, Chelsea, on the second day of 6th grade. Although we had multiple conversations during our 4th and 5th-grade years, we never truly began to establish a friendship until we were seated next to each other during 6th grade English. She is easily the most supportive, loyal, and compatible person and since we met, we have supported each other through the highs and lows. She has impacted life so positively and I'm so thankful that we were able to build a friendship together.
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When I found out that my Grandpa had passed, the news came as a complete shock. He had been living in a nursing home for the past few months where, as far as I knew, he was doing really well. His passing brought together numbers of family and friends to honor him and all that he had done during his life as a member of the US Army, and as a member of the Fire Department. His passing was the first time I experienced the passing of a family member and I realized to appreciate the people around you.
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The day I was Confirmed was one of the most exciting days of my life. It was the day that the many years of learning about my faith were finally being recognized and I would be sealed with the Holy Spirit. With my Uncle as my sponsor, my friends and I were all able to be Confirmed at the same time, with our family members also there to view. Not only was this a day where I physically grew closer to God, but I was able to experience this amazing event with my friends and family by my side.
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As a sophomore, I didn't expect much when trying out for the volleyball team. I was working my hardest every single day to show the coaches that I could be an important part of the team, however, I did not expect that I would make any more than JV. Receiving the email from my coach that night, saying that I had made varsity came as a complete shock. This opportunity allowed me to experience amazing opportunities, make new friends, and most importantly, see my potential as a volleyball player.
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I immediately knew something was wrong when my dog didn't come bursting into the house after what I assumed was a simple trip to the vet. Hearing my mom tell me that he had passed only confirmed my fears. My best friend for the past 7 years had suddenly passed away and I wasn't even able to say goodbye. A tumor in his body had ruptured and by the time he got to the vet, nothing could be done to save him. It was then that I realized to appreciate the time you have with your loved ones.
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Only days after my dog had passed, I was driving to Maryland for a lacrosse tournament with my dad. Although we went with two of my great friends and their dads, I was visibly in a bad mood and my two friends made it a priority to make any situation entertaining and help me feel better. Our games ended up getting canceled and we got to spend our free day learning about each other and having a lot of fun. Our trip strengthened the bond between us as friends and the bond between our families.
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What started out as a normal morning would soon turn out to be an amazing day. I was still in my bed when my parents walked through my bedroom door two days before Christmas. I couldn't see at first what was happening, but after putting my glasses on, I was able to see the sweet, black puppy laying in my dad’s arms. The rest of the day was spent playing with her and helping her to adjust to her new home. After contemplating multiple names, I was finally able to settle with naming her Willa.
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The night of 2019 fall sports awards, I was not only recognized with a Coach’s Award for my improvement throughout the season, but I also found out that I would be the Captain for the upcoming 2020 season alongside one of my teammates, Macie. With the rest of the team standing beside me, I found out the news and was greeted with nothing but positive responses. This will always be an important night to me as I was recognized for both my hard work and leadership throughout the volleyball season.
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The day my Grandma passed away was hands-down the worst day of my life. For the previous 5 months before her passing, she had been in and out of hospitals, ICU’s and nursing homes, battling lung cancer, complications from her lung surgery, and complications with her breathing. She will forever be the strongest woman I know and although I’m upset that she is gone, I’m so incredibly blessed that I was able to be so close with her and create so many long-lasting memories before she passed.
