To Mom and Dad, for supporting me through everything

Words cannot explain how unbelievably grateful I am for both of you. You two are the rock without which I could not stand. While I know it is almost impossible for you to be disappointed in me, I strive to be a better version of myself every day, someone more like both of you. Your consistent hard work, dedication, and compassionate character inspire me more than you know. Thank you for providing me with everything I could ever ask for, thank you for supporting me through everything, and thank you for always being loving and caring parents. I thank you for the extraordinary sacrifices you both have made for me. I thank you for both the good times and the bad, but most of all, thank you for being there for me through all of it.

To FHC Varsity Cheer, for being my escape from everything

Cheer was an aspect of my life I didn’t know I was missing until I saw the tryouts flyer in the hallways and decided to attend. Every experience and person I have met from this beautiful sport is something I wouldn’t trade for the world.

Anxiety and stress about practices soon transformed into anticipation and joy thanks to the amazing teammates and coaches I have gotten to know so well. Thank you for giving me the amazing opportunity to coach third-grade cheer. That experience has helped me become a better leader, a more caring and compassionate person, and an overall better person. To Autumn Vansolkema, for being an amazing leader and friend. Thank you for being a fantastic captain. Thank you for making the grueling and boring practices worthwhile. You are such a bright and bubbly person who radiates so much happiness and positivity to everyone you are around. I am so incredibly grateful that I met you. You have such a bright and beautiful soul. To Lauren Lutz, for being such an amazing person to be around. You are by far one of the sweetest and nicest people I know. Thank you for being such an amazing teammate and friend. I can’t picture next year’s sideline season without you and Autumn by my side, and while I am so sad that it will become a reality next year, I am so grateful for the time I had this season. Thank you for being such a spectacular friend. I am so thankful for you. To my coaches for being such inspirations. Thank you for making me want to strive to be better each and every practice. Thank you for being a listening ear when I need it, and thank you for being amazing leaders and coaches.

To Cate Afman, for six amazing years of friendship

I cannot believe it was six years ago that I met you. That amount of time seems so unfathomable due to the amazing (and slightly embarrassing) memories we share. When I first met you, we were both very awkward, and, to be honest, I didn’t think we would grow to be as close as we are now. You are the funniest person I know, and I thank you for all the laughs we share. You are the one and only person who truly understands my humor, and I am so grateful I met you. I thank you for our iMovie and slime phase (something I try hard to forget), I thank you for our sleepovers, our late nights at your house, and, most importantly, I thank you for being an amazing person that I can depend on.

To Bettye, for being the most amazing best friend I could ask for

I don’t know how words can describe how thankful I am that I met you, but I’m going to try. You are such a positive light in my life, and you spread so much positivity and joyfulness to everyone you are around. You are someone who makes my life worth living, and you are the sole reason I am able to get through the unbearably long days at school. Your contagious, joyful personality and smile make my days infinitely better, no matter what kind of mood I am in. You are the only and only person who I feel truly understands me, and I am so grateful I have you by my side. Thank you for being the most important person in my life. Thank you for the constant laughs. Thank you for being someone I cannot imagine life without.

To Grayson and Merritt, for being people I can always count on

While I know siblings aren’t supposed to like each other (and sometimes I don’t), I can’t deny that you two have grown to be some of the most important people in my life. Mom always says, “Siblings are the only people who will always be there for you,” and as I have grown older, I think I have finally understood the importance and truth this statement holds. I am so grateful for both of you. Thank you for being people I can depend on no matter what.

To my beach house, for giving me amazing memories

The memories that can be found between the walls of my beach house are some of the most important ones and the ones I value the most. Going skiing in the winter with my best friends, swimming, and kayaking. Memories of long summer days spent running into Lake Michigan, biking to the General Store down the road, and watching the sunset from the sand dunes are the ones I see when I close my eyes and are the ones I spend wishing I could go back to. Thank you for the remarkable and extraordinary memories you have given me, and thank you for being the place that will continue to generate my favorite moments of my life. 

And lastly, for everyone mentioned in this letter and not, I thank you for everything. Each and every person I have met has made such a big impact on me as a person and has shaped me into the person I am today and the person I am becoming. Thank you for always being people I can count on for everything. I am so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you.