TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2021: Allie Beaumont

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 Christmas break so we can live right next to each other again, at least for a little while. You are such an amazing person, but more importantly, an amazing sister; I love you so so much. 

To Mrs. Anderson – 

I am extremely grateful that we had our independent study last year. Although I miss sitting in your room each morning, just the two of us, your class is still one of my favorites, which I look forward to as a mood-booster each day. I love that you let us share our problems with you, and you always give advice in return. I love that no matter how many fingerspelling quizzes I fail, you still celebrate with me on the ones I do well on. Most importantly, I love having someone I always feel comfortable talking to at school, so thank you for being an amazing teacher that all of level three counts on. 

To Crandall Quinn – 

Last year, I remember sitting down and writing your Countless Thanks and not quite knowing what to say, in fear that no matter what I say, it would come out cringy or wouldn’t accurately depict how I feel about you. Although I would love to say this year that’s changed, but unfortunately, I am still struggling to find the words. Not because I am worried it will come out cringy, but because I am so thankful for you that no matter what I say, it wouldn’t be good enough. Your endless ability to make me laugh, your never-ending supply of witty comebacks, the way you stay up later now so that we can FaceTime after I get done with work, the different phases of nicknames you’ve called me over the past year, you and your family always inviting me to do things, how you always order a medium concrete mixer for me instead of a small so I get more ice cream, how you stole my octopus key chain and have hung it up in your car for months, how you ask for hauls of everything I buy from Target, how you like it when I send you pictures of my outfit and get offended if I don’t show my face when we call, how you let me take selfies every time we are together, the way you let me pretend I am strong compared to, you even though I am a foot shorter, how you always wished me good luck cheering at the footballs games even though you were the one on the field. All these things, along with so many more, are things you do to make me smile. Even though I don’t think I have won a single board game since we started dating, I am incredibly thankful to have you in my life.

To Annie Douma – 

I think the way we met perfectly explains our friendship since that day. The two of us taking online ASL together and mutually struggling to pass the class forced us to become friends because taking that class alone was simply not an option. Since then, we have done so many random things together I can’t even keep track of. From FHC Inspires, Project Charlie, Powderpuff, to third-hour yoga, I have no doubt in my mind that there will always be something for us to embark upon together, and if not, we will make one up. Your friendship has made my high school experience so much more fun, and on top of that, I know I will always have someone to go to Starbucks with. 

To the editors – 

The three of you mean so much to me, you don’t even know. As editors, I see the work you put in, and I can see the amount of effort it takes to have your job, and I applaud the three of you for taking on the challenge and doing it beautifully. I can’t tell you how excited I was to have three people who I know care about the wellbeing of the TCT staff and classroom as much as you three. You’re amazing editors, and every day, I am thankful knowing you three have my back in the classroom. However, outside of the classroom, you are even better friends. Our friendship is so interesting to me because you’re all only a year older than me, but in a way, you all are like different versions of my friend-group mom. I would feel comfortable calling any of you in the midst of a mental breakdown—most likely related to TCT. I know I can trust you with anything, I know you won’t judge me and that no matter what, I can ask you for advice. When I don’t get to see you guys outside of school, I miss you, and each of you has helped me so much this year. There aren’t enough thanks in the world to truly express how thankful I am. My heart aches at the thought of not having any of you in the TCT room next year. Every year, I have said goodbye to the TCT seniors, and each year it hurts, but I’ve never cried because, although I have been attached, I always knew I still had another year with TCT people I love. But next year, I will be the senior, and saying goodbye to you guys makes me want to cry even now when we still have months together. I don’t want to see you sporadically, I don’t want to have to look forward to the days when you come back to visit, I just want you to stick around forever. I know that you will all go on to do amazing things, but please don’t forget about me in the process. I love you all so much.