Gratitude

In first grade, I had a teacher named Mrs. Spence. I remember exactly the set up of her classroom. The seat that I sat in every single day in the front facing the window overlooking the playground. I remember the first time she wrote my name on the board for talking, which soon became a regular occurrence. I can picture what the kid beside me, Antwon, looked like and the pink cast I wore that year because I was clumsy and fell off a stool to a drum set that I was so adamant that I was going to learn to play. I had just moved to Kinston that year I was in her class and I still missed many of my friends from my old home in Greensboro. My mom later told me that Mrs. Spence often wrote her notes telling her that I complained about stomach aches all the time, which I'm sure was just anxiety from moving away.

But I quickly adjusted-- making the new school and new home my own. I became a social butterfly, something that would follow (and benefit) me to every school I attended after that. I changed schools a lot growing up-- six to be exact-- and finally landed in one that I loved and I stayed there until I graduated high school. Growing up, I wanted to be doing something at all times. I was a girl scout, a piano player,  a basketball player, a dancer, and did cotillion. I was also a softball player for about a week until the coach stopped calling to tell me when practices were (remember that, Mom & Dad?). In hindsight, I was not good at any of those things. In fact, I recently watched a dance recital from my junior year of high school where my lanky, uncoordinated self made me giggle. But I loved dance and I learned from all of my "hobbies". All of my experiences growing up shaped me into the woman I am today. All of the people, coaches and teachers that I met along my journey laid a hand print on the path I have set before me. They aren't kidding when they say, "It takes a village to raise a child." I was so fortunate to be apart of a town where you knew everybody and everybody cared about what you became.

Graduation is a sentimental time. It's a time when a huge part of your identity is swiped away from you. No longer are you a student (unless, of course, you continue to go back to school). I guess some would argue that you are always a student because everyday has something to teach you. But it's true about the losing of an identity because, for the most part, people move to new areas, people make new friends, and people start over. You remember the past, but you no longer remain in that life anymore. Fortunately, you've learned from every single person along the way. You've made a fundamental growth as an individual just by interacting with these people from your past. The future steps you take and the future people that you meet are only going to make you grow more. That's pretty wonderful.

Before I turn the tassel on Sunday, I wanted to thank everyone who made my education valuable. I learned more than just "reading, writing, and arithmetic" from these "past" people. I learned how to be a compassionate human being and how to never stop believing in myself or others. People are put into your life for a reason and I truly believe that everyone has something to teach you, whether it good or bad-- patience or hardship--friendship or love. As graduation draws nearer, remember those that made your education possible. Thank them. They gave you something that is truly invaluable. Because of your education, you are equipped to turn the page of your book and to begin your own story. The rest is up to you to write. A blank page. A growing process.

That's amazing.

To Mrs. Tapolka, Mrs. Spence, Mrs. Batts, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Crocker, Mrs. Bybus, Mrs. Wideman, Mrs. Seymour, Mrs. Johnson,  Dr. Sutherland, Mr. Pollock, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bright, Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. McLawhorn, Mr. Rowe, Mr. Kearney, Mrs. Barker, Mrs. Basden, Mrs. King, Mrs.Barrow, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Schreiber, Mrs. Leighton, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Lambert, Mr. Logan, Mr. Rowe, Mrs. Moye, Mrs. Bower, Rob Beaman, Coach Sutton, and many, many more... thank you.

And all of my UNC-Chapel Hill professors. Also a special thanks to UNC Career Services who quickly learned my name because of my obsessive number of stops into their office to say, "Ok, so I changed my major to _____, now what?" They never really had an answer, but it was good therapy.

You, too, Mom and Dad. For the many nights of crying over grades and assignments and life. And for encouraging words along the way. Thanks for putting up with me, while I accomplished it...all.

Thank you. Cheers to the future-- As Natasha Bedingfield said, "Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten..." 

Always,
Carrie