4 years ago I left this town I called home to move to Bourbonnais (how I then pronounce ber-bonus) IL. At the time I had no idea what was in store for me. I had no clue what to expect or how things were going to turn out. I had no idea at the time that I would fall in love with my chosen major. I had no idea I would meet the best friend I have ever had. I had no clue that I was going to meet so many people that have influenced my life in such a dramatic way. I had no idea that my relationship with God would be poked, prodded, tested, strengthened and grown so dramatically. I decided that I needed to spend some time reflecting on my last four years because I don’t want to miss one lesson or one moment that meant something to me. Now obviously I am not going to go into every single moment of the last four years that would to FOREVER.
The first thing I have realized is that I would not be where I am if it wasn’t for the people that God has blessed my life with. If I can walk through campus and recognize a face, any face, chances are you have impacted my life in some way. I have never been more grateful for the people in my life. I have the greatest friends that a girl could ever ask for.
My roommates this year I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them. This year began as one of the hardest times of my life and because of them, I got through it, knowing that everything was going to be ok, knowing that they had my back and that whenever I needed a shoulder to cry on they were there. Not to mention the late nights staying up talking, the study breaks for dance videos, all the talk about how we were going to work out and save money by cooking in our apartment all the time. And who could ever forget all the late nights with Lyds screaming, Kate snoring, and Hayley well Hayley never really did much at night. During the year we decided that we don’t live in the real world, because well what 21 year olds do you know that still think that Santa Clause and the Easter bunny came to their apartment? From planning weddings, to dealing with heartbreaks my roommates and I have been there for each other whenever need be. They telling me they will beat people up for me, being mad with me, being sad with me, and always looking out for me. I could not have asked for better roommates and best friends! I love them to death and they have challenged me in my walk with God in tremendous ways. From seeing Hayley and Tim’s relationship so build on Christ, Kate’s constant prayer life and trust in God when everything is falling apart, and Lydia’s huge heart and determination to be all that she can be they have inspired me to be a better person. I feel so blessed to have such amazing friends!
My best friend. Oh Bobe, honestly I don’t even know where to begin with that girl. She is my soul mate and I honestly believe that. All growing up I had really great friends, but I never felt like I had a real best friend, someone that was just my best friend and no one else’s. That may sound childish or immature, but it is something that I always wanted. And one day my next door neighbor came out of her dorm room and things have never been the same. We have cried so many tears, we have laughed more than anyone could ever imagine. We have a bond that cannot ever be broken. From car rides home from Toledo, My car almost killing us about 1million times, starting conversations with “this might be to information but…” She gets me. She knows what I am going to say before I even say it. I know that she is the person that will always always be there, I know that no matter what happens to me, what stupid thing I do next she’ll be there supporting every decision I make, even if she doesn’t agree with it. We have gone through a lot together, oh my gosh have we gone through a lot together. I have no idea what I would ever do without that girl. You know people say that whoever you marry is the person that God has made for you. I truly believe that when God created Sarah Shea he had me in mind. I would not be the person I am if it wasn’t for that girl. I could never thank her enough for being such an amazing woman. I cannot wait to see what the rest of our lives have in store for us. We will be the old ladies in wheelchairs sitting next to each other in the nursing home. I honestly believe that.
How could I ever forget about those who have gone through the insaneness of ATEP with me. The seniors in my class; Ky, Kristi, Trish, Chris. We have been through it all together. We went into the program wanting to change it for the better, and I think we have accomplished our goals. I won’t forget all the times we have spent in class together, all the times we have spent freaking out about Brian’s tests together, through all the hours we have spent in the training room I honestly believe we have a bond that can never be broken. You are all going to make AMAZING athletic trainers I cannot wait to hear all the stories of crazy injuries and illness you all get to deal with!!!! It wasn’t just the seniors that have helped me through the program. In our program it is hard not to become close to those that work closely with you. Holly has been there every step of the way this year. Calling her after breakups or calling her after something dramatic happened in the training room. I am surprise that girl is not sick of me yet. I of course can’t forget all of our inside jokes, and the one time I told her that I wasn’t going to graduate and she was happy for me? I don’t know. She has made my year soo much more exciting and so much better. I love her to death. All of the other students from sophomore to senior have helped me become a better athletic trainer and a better person. They have all challenged me and my knowledge and I know, because of them, I am going to be a great athletic trainer.
Even though things might not have ended the way we were expecting them to, Steve has been a huge part of my life for such a long time. Not only in the last two year, try the last seven. Who knew that someone licking the side of my face while I was sleeping would take us up and over all the mountains, hills, through the valleys, across the rivers and anything else you can think of. We have been through it all together. My relationship with God has grown to heights that I never thought it would reach and a lot of it has to do with my relationship with Steve. Because of him I am a much better person, student, Christian, woman, friend, and for the next lucky guy, girlfriend. He knows me better than anyone else in this world, and while that scares me sometimes I know that if I ever needed anything he would be there for me. Some think I am crazy because of the relationship that he and I have. What I have learned is that the bond he and I have can never be broken. What we have is so much more than an ex-relationship. He is one of my best friends, whether I like it or not Steve is never going to go away. Trust me a lot of times I want him too, but God has put him in my life to make me and him a better person. We have been through so much, he has done so much for me and my family I could never ever forget about him. I was in the car with my step mom the other day and we were talking about him, and she sat there and told me how Steve will always mean a lot to her and her family. One of the most important things he has ever done for me is when he went to my uncle’s funeral when I couldn’t be there because I was at school. I don’t care what anyone ever says about him, he’s an amazing guy. I know that not everyone understand and I don’t expect them to. He is going to make a great doctor someday, I am so proud of the person he is and all he has become. My life would be crazy if he wasn’t in it.
There are two more people that have been a big part of my life for the past two years, and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be a college graduate. April and Brian, If it wasn’t for them I would have never made it through the program. Brian, although sometimes scary, is one of the most encouraging people I have ever met. He isn’t scary because he wants to make us cry (and trust me he has made me cry) but he is challenging us to become all that we can be. Brian sees what a lot of people don’t see. He can look beyond our grades and our test scores and see what kind of athletic trainers we can be. He has always had faith in me, and that means everything in the world and more to me, because a lot of times I didn’t think I would ever make it. His faith and all that he has gone through has challenged me to become a better person, not only did he challenge me to be a better trainer but a better Christian. I want to be the role model that Brian is, when I look at him I first see a man following Jesus, I now see a father and husband, and then an athletic trainer. I am so glad I got to spend a little bit more time with him and his family this year. Nora Kate is a lucky little girl. I am so excited to get to spend more time with him and his family! And I cannot wait to see that little girl grow up. I think I have spent more time on April’s couch in the past three years than I have spent on my own. Whether it is boy issues or me thinking that I am going to not graduate she has always listened to me no matter how busy she might be. I honestly don’t think I would have ever gotten through athletic training if it wasn’t for her. She was constantly encouraging me and inspiring me to do better. She knows when to cut the crap and just tell me how it is. Without her knowing it she has inspired me to be all that I can be. I see April and I am instantly inspired, One day I hope to be half of what she is. Her passion for the students in the program, her love for athletic training, and her compassion to help people, I don’t know how she balances it all. April hasn’t just been my teacher. She has been my therapist, my mentor, and a great friend. I can’t wait to spend the next two year with her, and I really think in 2 years I will be saying the same thing; I could have never done it without her.
I could never forget about how much my mom has helped me. From me balling my eyes out hyperventilating because I don’t think I am going to pass a test, to telling her that I’m Quiting School, to calling her homesick. She has been there through everything. She is the best Mom a girl could ever ask for. I think the most important think about her is knowing how proud of me she is. She does a good job of showing that. She has so much faith in me, I honestly think that she believe I can do anything. Now I know that I have limits but knowing that she thinks anything is possible makes me think that one day I might be able to fly. She’s the best mom in the world, I feel bad about all the times I never saw her that way, the times I never realized that she was right. I love my mom more than anyone. She the best mom ever.
Most of all throughout the years, esp this one. I know that with God all things are possible. I have wanted to prove to myself that I can do it. I wanted to prove to myself that I can be more than I thought I could be. I have always wanted to achieve my goals and I feel like I always fall short. But this year I did it. I graduated college, with a better GPA than I expected, with a Job. And just knowing that I am going to be ALL I can be. I know that great things are in store for me. And I cannot wait to see what they are!!! I am so excited about my life. As my roommates would mockingly say about me “I love my life!” I cannot wait for the next step. I am going to be a GA. I still can’t believe it. I know that God is going to use this in so many ways I am just very excited to see what happens. I have given it all to God. My he do with it what he will.
