TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2021

My family and my career Thank you first to Meg, Jordan, and Ty for obvious reasons. My family is everything to me. And, thanks to the English department for taking on more and doing it for the kids. Thanks also to all of my “work friends” who played corn hole with me this summer and support me every day at work.  2nd hour Thank you to Josie for influencing everyone (including me!) eve...

Staff - for brightening my day with your ability to go above and beyond  Jadelin, thank you for always being so dedicated. Masyn, thank you for your positive attitude. Kelsey, thank you for making podium days humorous and for checking in on me in math class. Lauren, thank you for your odd, early morning stretches, your helping hands, and the numerous countdowns you keep on the whiteboard. Veronica, than...

Emma Zawacki and Natalie Mix, for being my breath of fresh air As much as I dread going to school every day, knowing I have the privilege of spending first and sixth hour sitting next to you guys on the couch in Room 139 brings me comfort. It could be as simple as Emma texting our group chat before school, asking what our coffee orders are, or Natalie sharing a crippling Celsius addiction with me...

Katherine Hartman, Sophie Hartl, Brooke Munson, and Sophie Shields - for Survivor selfies For the first few weeks of the school year, Social Psych lacked the vivacity that most of the classes on my schedule did. It wasn’t until I moved into the seat in front of Mr. Pierce’s desk and started sitting by you four that I started to look forward to fifth hour every day. From silly conversations with Mr...

To my sister -  I miss you now more than ever since you’ve left for college. Sometimes, it is really really hard not having you around all the time, but I know that no matter how far away you are, you will always be there for me when I need you. I am so thankful for our strong relationship and how close we are even when you're away. I can’t wait for you to come home for Thanksgiving and Ch...

The TCT family - for creating my happy place You are all the most creative and riveting group of people I have ever met. Thank you all for constantly pushing me to work harder and think bigger. You all have given me nothing but kindness and incredible individuals to look up to. Mr. George - you have changed my life in countless ways; I wouldn’t have nearly as much confidence in my writing or my...

Mom - for bringing me to this beautiful place called Earth and teaching me how to live  My heart has been and still is, appreciating you for giving me life and helping me know what kind of person I should be in this world. Your unconditional love is never gone, and my life is on a smooth path because of you. Thanks for the time you offer to be there for me when I feel myself being put down and cel...

Meggie Kennedy, for being my literal soulmate. I’m writing this on the night before it’s due, cramming my thankfulness for people into little boxes marked by their names. Yet, I’m deeply struggling to complete it, mostly because no combination of letters and syllables will ever be able to summarize how indebted to you I am.  Since we were four years old—playing with farm animals and learning o...

Grace Sinicrope - for creating who I am today I didn't realize how much I needed you until Loyola stole you. They took each and every morning sharing the mirror, the ten minutes before we went to sleep where you would come sit on the end of my bed. They took my most honest fashion critique and my hairstylist. Mostly though, they took my greatest role model. Thank you for showing me who I want to...

Lauren Batterbee and Rachel Marco—for close to 12 years of friendship We are Mike, Sully, and Boo. They always say good things come in threes, and that phrase definitely applies to us. It’s so crazy to think we’ve been friends—best friends—since kindergarten, and our friendship hasn’t ever wavered. Though it’s next to impossible for the three of us to find time to hang out thanks ...

Dad - for being my rock  As a toddler, my favorite parent was my mom, no doubt. I clung to her side like glue. But as I grew up, I molded into a “Mini Joe." Our humor is identical, and our comments toward people, our social abilities, and everything is so alike.  Whenever I need a laugh, you’re my go-to. Spending time with you can get on my nerves a lot, you try to outsmart me and bust my ...

Sofia Hargis-Acevedo - for being my other half in the most literal sense of the definition What a time we have both been through. Over the past few years, we have grown closer and closer, and at this point, we are basically the same person. We can't survive the school day without one another, nor can we go only a few hours without talking. I'm grateful that I can FaceTime you at almost any given t...

Music - for bringing light into my life  I would have never thought that when I played my first A-sharp on the keys that would soon become muscle memory. Spending many Saturday nights cooped up in my room for hours on end feeling happy inside because I find a rhythm I love. You have guided me through most of my struggles but more through my life experiences–lending me new perspectives of what’s within...

Ben Ruffer -  You’ve been by my side since freshman year when we finally became best friends after we shared the bond of hating Chinese 1. Even though I was not exactly the kindest person in fifth grade, you showed kindness to me in middle school and what seemed to be begrudgingly agreed to take on a friend freshman year. I can’t thank you enough for being my built-in Uber whenever I need ...

The family of TCT - for giving me something to look forward to at the end of every day Thank you to all of the amazing writers on The Central Trend. You guys make the school so much brighter with your creativity, kindness, and words of encouragement. The editors - you are all so incredible, hard-working, and talented. We wouldn’t be nearly as much of a success without your leadership. Thank you ...

To my sister - for being the one person I know won’t leave me At first, I wanted nothing more than to get my own room and get away from you, but now I relish the time I spend with you, the stories we used to tell. I still tuck you in every night, and it’s one of the best moments of my day. When I get to sit and talk with you, I enjoy rolling with laughter. I am bad at showing my appreciation fo...

Mom, for being the best dance mom on the planet Over the past 13 years, you have helped me get to and from dance practice and competitions, do my hair and makeup, make sure all of my costumes were packed, and ensure that I was always having a good time. I just want you to know how incredibly thankful I am for you; you are one of the strongest people I know, and I aspire to be just as amazing as you a...

For my brown,  All I'm left to look at are the posts that bury themselves deep with pictures of a brunette girl with a dainty nose and perfect eyes. She used to be blonde and loud in her opinions—I guess from miles away the sound drowned her out. I don’t know how you grew up to be so perfect in every way imaginable, but I am envious of the path your life has followed. From the mountains you�...

Jadelin Hinkel - for going on adventures with me I don’t have the words to thank you. I never thought that the sophomore that I met weeks before my freshman year even started would become my best friend, but I couldn’t be happier that she did. Over the past three years, you have taught me what it means to be a band kid. You have taught me what it means to have someone that loves you uncondition...

Seasons mark every fifteen minutes on the clock for me, time moves faster this way—is more bearable this way. Everything I have touched over the past year has fallen apart in matters of seconds; innocent twitches of the big hand on the clock turn into sand slipping through my fingers, and all I do is watch.  That being said, it’s hard to find words, words in general that is, to describe all o...

Eva Harshman and Addy Cousins—for being the stop and drop to my roll Thank you for being here. Thank you for filling my days with joy when our sixth hour in room 139 finally commences. You two have never left me hanging when I needed you the most. I appreciate the moments that you have made me laugh and comforted me when I cry. You two are my lifeboats in an endless depth of stress. The littl...

Jem - for always being there for me Thank you for being there for me in my darkest times. You never fail to brighten my mood and make my days bearable. I wish we could hang out more often, but I still love being able to talk to you on Discord most days. Our bond is not one that I have ever experienced before; I genuinely do not understand how you are so caring, or how you can put up with my antics, ...

My fellow AP Art people—for helping me explore the differences Every day at 12:35 p.m., I step into my favorite section of the building—the art department. I am continually greeted by the faces of my fellow artists, together awaiting whatever tribulations and strange yet intriguing conversations the hour will bring. As I see each of your unique styles and works, I am able to decipher the impor...

To my sister, Akansha Das - for being the best sister ever  Through thick and thin, you have always been there for me whenever I need you. From helping me with my homework to being my personal chauffeur everywhere, you have never failed to put a smile on my face. Despite your annoying habit of leaving your dirty dishes in the sink, I am so lucky to have you as an older sister. I wouldn’t want ...

Cassidy Curtis - for guiding me through my horseback riding career and life  I started when I was ten years old and had set a goal for myself. "I want to go to Youth Nationals someday." And look where I am now, all thanks to you. I've made it through many regionals and gained some regional titles, I've accomplished my national goal, and I would not be who I am today without you. You've made me s...

Izzy—For the laughter You always make the class laugh and make me laugh. I just wanted to say thank you for being the reason I smile at least once a day. Arsenia Tompkins—For talking to me We usually have small interactions each day such as me picking up whatever thing you dropped by my desk, sharing a computer when we don't want to open a second one, or just chatting. Thank you for b...

My family—for not selling me on eBay  You have had seventeen years of opportunities to sell me on eBay—whether it be for a penny or more, I’m sure it could have worked—but you’ve kept me, so thank you. I can’t wait for this week and Christmas break when we are all together and making memories again. Thank you for dealing with my questions and helping me with everything. Thank you for the ...

Penny O’Meara, for being the one I can always count on to read my mind I know I’ve let you down a few times, but you’ve never left me hanging. I feel like I can tell you anything—your ability to listen and be personal with others is so contagious. Though on the outside, we are almost polar opposites, I think that our souls split off of the same piece. We can finish each other's sentences, get th...

Sloane Corey - for being my built-in best friend Thank you for banging on my door, for stealing all my clothes, and for making me grilled cheese sandwiches in the middle of the night. I love you, brat. Though your bedroom is only floors away from mine, there’s nobody I’d rather have a “sleepover” with. To my girls, for sticking with me all these years I’m proud to say I’ll be leavin...

To Natalie Hedger - My Rock It puts a smile on my face to imagine the first time we met in kindergarten. No, we didn't have a love at first sight relationship, but the complete opposite. My hatred for you was incomparable until last year when I discovered all those years of envy over you were a blessing in disguise. Thank you for being my ride or die, my rock, and the absolute light of my life. There...

Charlotte Stephan - for being more than a shoulder to lean on  Thank you for everything you do. Ever since kindergarten, I've known that your kindness would carry on and that you would do great things. You help me at my darkest times and make my days full of glee. You’ve heard this from me multiple times, but I still live by it: you deserve the world and more; I hope you never forget that. T...

Eve Marbot and Chloe Flowers-Stiles - for being my rowing besties When I decided I was going to join the crew team, I was terrified. I didn’t know the people, and I didn’t know the sport, but you two have made the whole experience amazing. Chloe, I honestly didn’t think that we would interact much this year outside of when our parents hung out. But rowing with you has been amazing, and I ca...