TCT’s The Countless Thanks 2020

To my 2nd hour Honors English 10 class: Thanks to Madi for your kindness, compassion, and curiosity, Carson for wanting to grow as a speaker and writer, Payton for being my favorite Vincent and then not and then favorite and then not, Liv for consistently giving me all you have, Chris for quick and decisive answers that show understanding and intelligence, Abby for sharing your mesmerizing poet...

Lilly Crook: You annoy me so much, but I kind of love you for it. Thank you for being there when I’m bored or fighting with me over who has better handwriting (it’s me)--even when we scream at each other, we’re laughing at the same time. I’m so glad I have a running buddy—even if I AM faster—and you finally got to laugh at me for spraining my ankle.  Sophie Kovachevich: You’re ...

Mason Yarnell, the new kid who moved in next door around eleven years ago. Mason, you truly are my platonic soulmate—sometimes even I struggle to find where you end and I begin. We have had our week-long ‘break-ups’ many times, but otherwise, we have been inseparable since I entered the first grade. Sometimes I get so angry at the world when I remember that you’re leaving me to be an op...

Brynn Schanski- for the past, the future, and everything in between I never thought I could find an individual with an aura that could compete with mine; at least, I thought that until your freckled-face, frog-hat clad head wandered into your mother’s classroom that day nearly ten years ago. You’ve never failed to entertain me with our long, insane conversations on anything that pops into ou...

Sophie Kovachevich: for always being up for a fun time I can hardly think of a fun memory that doesn’t involve you. You will always be like a sister to me. You’re always there to make me smile and get me to laugh when most people can’t. I’m so glad I’ve gotten to share all of your life’s moments with you. Thank you for always being yourself and encouraging me to be whoever I want. I’...

Jessie – for letting me stay longer than I should’ve I’ve already thanked you for months of quarantine that would have unmanageably lonely and mundane without you—for the all-nighters, hours of Animal Crossing, new Zoom names every night—ahem, Mrs. Cletus CleCletus—chai tea, and every priceless moment I can’t currently recall.  But now I have to thank you for everything else. Fo...

My biology group, the “Clowns,” for supporting me, even when I can’t say phosphorylation I genuinely think I would not be passing AP Biology without you guys. Amelia, Megan, Abigail, Val, Julia—you guys make the two-hour block feel like a blink, whether we’re discussing our enzyme cartoons or how to dismantle Big Pharma. It feels like everything I say is listened to, even if I’m complaining about greenwashing in the middle of a cellular respirat...

Grand Rapids Ballet—for being my second home Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You pushed me from my little, eight year-old self bouncing around like a kangaroo, to a sixteen year-old dancer with turnout and the ability to turn. Thank you for giving me friends to last centuries. Thank you for making me miss you. Attila and Mindy Mosolygo—Thank you for pushing me to become the da...

My women - for being the village that raised me into who I am today To the seven women who have touched my heart so personally, I owe everything to you guys. Most of you are not even blood-related, but you are my unconditional family nevertheless. Almost all of you were in the hospital room on the day I was born—Sammy with your stage makeup from the play you were in, Nina with your faded blue ...

Ben Ruffer - for being the best best friend  Without you, I wouldn’t have lasted in Chinese class. Thank you for being one of the few people I can turn to with any of my problems, both emotional and homework-related. As for Chinese class, I would’ve failed that class without you and all the help you provided me with. I’m so happy we were stuck in Chinese One and Two together these past few ye...

Zackary Race - for simply being Zack The past fourteen years have been wild solely because of you. And for that, I’m eternally grateful. Even though I’ll be forever bitter about you killing my Minecraft dog seven years ago, at the end of the day, you’re still my twin—at the end of the day, that madness that lives inside you is going to keep me sane. We’ve done practically everything toge...

Mom and Dad: for everything Thank you for everything you do for me. Whether it's helping me with math homework or painting my nails, I’m thankful for every moment. Thank you for giving me a chance to figure things out on my own but always being there ready to give me guidance. Thank you for the amazing dinners and the incredible family vacations. I’m so thankful for every moment we spend tog...

Grace Pennington - for being my constant You are a constant ray of sunshine, Gracey P. Whenever I’m put in a poor mood, I resort to you to drag me out of it. Your smile lights up a whole room with your consistent energy and lovingness. When we hang out, we barely ever actually do anything active simply because we’re just happy with each other’s presence—we could be laying in bed all day a...

Meggie—my sky blue: I could fill this entire thank you with just the inside jokes we’ve shared, but I will try to craft something more eloquent for creativity’s sake. I am so eternally grateful for the space you have filled in my life; I could not have asked for a better thirteen-year companion. I look back on Bronner’s vacations and Art Prize trips as some of the best moments of my childhoo...

Julia Beaumont—All I can say is please don't leave me. I know you have to, but I honestly don't know if I will be able to do life without you right across the hall. You are so good in your own life but also mine. You drop everything just to help me with my homework, even though you have mountains of your own. You support me in everything I do, even if it's not the brightest idea. You teach me thing...

Koyuki Buckhold - for always saying ‘love you’ before you hang up Though I am the worst at answering your FaceTime calls, I hope you know that each time I hang up, I smile because I know I won’t have to wait long for the next time you call me. In all honesty, I smile every time I think of you.  Koyuki, you are the most delicate and genius mixture of humor, fire, potential, and lovabilit...

Julianna - for keeping me (somewhat) sane during show week  As much as I love theatre, there can be so much stress surrounding it. I fear the show won’t be perfect even though it always works out in the end. But, with you by my side, I knew Brothers Grimm would be great. I couldn’t have asked for a better head of costumes to work with, and I know you’ll do great without me next year.  ...

Ellory, Ashley, and Lucy - for being such supportive mangoes It seems like just yesterday we were in Mrs. Hall’s class gluing googly eyes onto Jefferson and taking over the room with Weville and over 100 of his cousins while also blasting the Draco Puppet song from our Chromebooks. Earlier in the year, we really were just waiting to be friends and finally got a reason to do so with that first ...