| I have arrived. I am grateful that people make effort and take time to let me know what I created matters to them. I am grateful that something as small as a web site can help give hope and courage to change. I am also touched and humbled. I am no heroine. I am scared of pain, can be lazy and take short cuts, am impatient. I've made many mistakes in my life, and have hurt and been hurt. Through all this, I believe life is good and people appreciate each other. I am learning to appreciate myself now, to admit that my being here makes a difference even if I still don't know what that difference is. I am learning to be thankful, to say "thank you" to someone who helped me. I'm not afraid to say "thank you" a couple more times than what people expected. Before I moved to California, I was tidying up my desk in lab. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I'll be leaving a state that I've lived in for fourteen years. I was excited to finally be with my husband, but also sad that I'm leaving behind the only "home" I had ever known. Even when I was alone, I never felt afraid because I was home, I felt I belonged. The thought struck that I should contact people who had made a difference in my life - people who had helped me when I was growing up. I remembered a guidance counselor who had spent a great deal of time with me when I was fourteen and "battling it out" with my parents. Mrs. Drozynski was very kind to me even though I was always sullen and withdrawn. I wasn't sure if she still worked at the school, but I looked up the number and called. I asked for Mrs. Drozynski and was transferred to a line. I was shocked and excited when Mrs. Drozynski picked up! In this day and age, no one seemed to stay at one place any more. I told her who I was and asked if she remembered me. She did and was surprised to hear from me. I told her that I was moving to California and wanted to thank her before I left. I appreciated that she never gave up on me and always tried to reach out to me. She was very happy to hear that and said "we thought we'd lost you for some time." I also asked her about a math teacher who had helped me a lot. He was out that day, but she said she'll let him know I thanked him. When I hung up, I felt full. I had tears in my eyes. I felt like things had "come full circle", to a place in my life where I can look back and thank the people who had made an impact. People who never gave up on me when I had given up on myself. I have many teachers to thank. Everyday when I feel "I have arrived", I think about how I came to be where I am. I am here only because I had "stood upon the shoulders of giants." I am here because I didn't give up. I am here because others didn't give up on me. To Mrs. Drozynsk, Mr. Baier, Mrs. Bongiorno, Mr. Hoover, Dr. Wenner, Dr. Leister: Thank you all for believing in me, and thank you all for contributing to all the good things I have in my life today. It is because of you all that every single day I have the occasion to feel "I have arrived." |