TCT’s The Countless Thanks: Allie Beaumont
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 things about the world I didn’t even know existed. It’s true I borrow stuff without asking, and sometimes I just flat out steal things from your room, and sometimes I sit too close to you to annoy you, and maybe I have ruined a couple of your nights by crying to you for hours, but I have limited time left being your little sister, so you know fully well I am going to live it up because I know you will love me anyway despite my many flaws. I love you so, so much. Please don’t leave me.
Mia Martin—When I first met you, I had no idea how much you were going to mean to me, and now I can’t imagine living life without you. Your friendship is everything, as we all know, but you are more than just a friend, and you always will be. I remember writing a similar paragraph to this one last year for TCT’s The Countless Thanks, and, look, we made it another year being best friends. We always joke about how I influence you by making you join cheer and TCT with me along with countless other things, but, little do you know, it’s actually you changing me. Your smile makes me smile brighter. Your sadness makes me hurt more deeply. Your infectious laughter fills me with so much joy, and being around you has the power to make my day ten times better than if you weren’t in it. You are always there for me, and I know it’s cheesy, but it couldn’t be more true. You are a source of light in my life, and you are one of the pillars that hold my life together, and, for that, I will always be thankful. Please don’t ever stop being my best friend.
Maggie Russell—Oh, girl, where do I begin? You are quite literally my other half. From the outside, we are very different, and we know this. However, the more time we spend together the more similar we become, and I love it. Our relationship is irreplaceable because of how strong it is. I love you so much and only want good things in your life. I know that you will still be there for me even when all is said and done, and the memories we are making now become distant thoughts of youth. You will still be there on my good days and bad. You will still be there when we are old and most likely just as confused with the world as we are now. If I haven’t been able to shake you for seven years, then I likely never will, and I am so thankful for that. You started as my neighbor, but now you’re my family.
Emma Zawacki—You are such a beautiful person and you are one of the most dedicated, kind-hearted souls I have ever met. I am so thankful every day that I not only met you but get to work with you in TCT. Don’t ever let your kindness dampen; it is one of your best qualities along with being absolutely gorgeous. I love you!
Crandall Quinn—I never quite know what to expect when I am with you, whether it be showing up to our zoom meetings and you being in an Olaf costume, singing the Curious George theme song over and over again, beating me at almost every game we play, constantly making faces during student council zooms, eating carrot cake ice cream not once but twice—even though it was bad both times. However, even though you surprise me every day with the comedic things you do, rest assured it always makes me laugh, and that’s really all I can ask for—a person to make me smile through all the craziness of the world, so thank you for making me happy.
Lauren Batterbee—You brighten my morning like no other. You’re someone who I could never get tired of being around. Thank you for helping me with my math homework, editing my articles last minute, letting me sleep the first hour when I literally can’t stay awake and ultimately making my day better by being there at the start with your kindness.
Savannah Blue—Thank you for never changing, for being there for me when I need it most, and you know when that is. Your energy is unmatched by anyone I know, and I can always count on you whether I need to feel loved, or simply just want to have some fun. You do things specifically to make me happy, and I love you for it.
Nat Mix—You are one of the people I have missed most through hybrid and online learning. I miss seeing you every day; I miss knowing what color your hair is the day after you dye it; I miss laughing with you as both our mental healths go downhill. I love you, and I will continue to miss you until we get to be together again.
Katya Berjawi—You are amazing; you’re smart and beautiful, and sometimes you have to explain the world to me, but you never seem to mind. You tell me about life, and then you help me through it. You’re one of my favorite people to be around, and sometimes I find myself just wishing I could be right next to you, simply because I crave your presence. You have had such a big impact on my life, and I am extremely thankful!
Delaney Niswonger—Oh my god, I literally can’t live without you, and it makes me want to cry every time I think about you not being my back spot next year. There are few places in life where one actually feels safe, but when I am with you I know I won’t be hurt, regardless of the fact that I fall like a million times over before we hit our stunt. I still feel safe, and when we do finally hit our stunt, there is no one who I would want to celebrate it more with than you. I am begging you to come back and visit me next year because you have been a light in my life since I joined cheer, so thank you for being my home away from home, my safe place, and most of all my beautiful friend.
Veronica Vincent—I am so happy that we both do TCT together. I feel like we have collectively become the babies of TCT, and I don’t know about you, but I think it is so much fun, and there is no one I would rather do it with. You’re so talented, and I am so happy I have the honor of being your friend!
Sophie Kovachevich—You are my spirit animal. You’re literally one of the best people I know. It’s impossible to be around you and not be happy. I don’t think I have enough words to describe how much you mean to me. You’re so funny, beautiful, and energetic. You are my twin, and most importantly my best friend. As you have clearly stated on many occasions we are meant to be together!! I love you girly; don’t ever stop being yourself.
Mr. George—You are always saying how you hope you change our lives, and I am here to tell you that my life has forever been changed by your presence in it. Thank you for letting me into TCT freshman year, thank you for being a teacher who somehow manages to motivate me, challenge me, and care about my feelings all at once. Thank you for letting me call the TCT classroom my home.
Kellie Oliver—I don’t think you understand just how excited Julia and I get when you come over here. Your presence in our house never fails to make me laugh, and you’re honestly such a fun adult to be around. It means so much to me that you read my articles, and my countless thanks wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t thank you for all the amazing and crazy nights we all just spend talking.
Linus Kaechele—I am so glad we have hybrid days together because I wouldn’t want to sit next to anyone else. You are one of the most talented people I have ever met, and one day when you’re famous for something great, I am going to have the honor of being able to say I was your friend. Don’t forget, when this pandemic is over, I want a hug!
Paulina Diesen—Thank you for all the encouragement, laughter, and friendship you have given me over the years. Cheer would never feel quite right without you there. That is why I am so excited that you are doing comp. season. Thank you for hyping me up and making me feel calm in your presence, while also being extremely happy when we are together. I love you, and I only ever want you to experience happiness in your life.
Ashlyn Korpak—All I can say is I miss you so much, and I will forever be mad that I only got less than a year with you, but I am writing you this so you know I am still thinking of you, and you will always be one of my favorite people ever, and I just want to thank you a million times over for helping make TCT become my home! I love you!
The boys my sister is always talking to— Thank you for your excitement every time I enter the room when Julia is on Facetime. Thank you for making her laugh all night, even if it keeps me up. Thank you for walking me to class so I don’t get kidnapped. Oh, and of course, Thank you for putting me at the top of your will. You guys truly are really fun to talk to.
My cheer team—Thank you for making me feel loved, for making me feel like I have a place where I can be myself, for letting me make mistakes but loving me anyway. I don’t know what I am going to do when the seniors leave. You will be missed more than you know, and I look forward to the day when you come back to visit, and I will hug you tighter than you know. I have not been on this team for very long, but it is undoubtedly a family. A family of girls who cry together, and celebrate victories together. We are full of nothing but love for each other, and I am so thankful.
The editors—You have no idea how much your guys’ words mean to me—every compliment, every shout out, every time you text me simply to tell me you liked my writing. I feel validated, and in many ways complete. Thank you for all the work you do. Thank you for your kind words; it actually means the world.