Thank You, to a college sophomore

 Thank You to my parents for sending me to Loyola, It was an honor to attend a school you both loved so dearly. Thank you to the college counselors who told me I would never get into Loyola. Thank you to my 14 tutors and doctors for diagnosing me with 12 learning disabilities. Thank you to Charles street for raising me. 

But more in particular thank you Kerri. As a 6 year old girl, I had no idea what a college sophomore did... 

I was too young to be able to appreciate, admire, look up to, and idolize this college sophomore so I decided to write about her, years later. This college sophomore was just looking for a babysitting job a way to make money on the side, little did she know who she would be babysitting for. When she first came into my families life my mother was faced down for weeks with a detached retina. I can’t imagine what the heck this babysitter was thinking at first because she couldn't even see my mother's face. 

She had come into our lives during the “worst years” I guess you could call it. My brother was struggling with bullying at school and my sister and I were at such a critical age.

I remember her being such a pretty girl who I wanted to be just like. She drove a bright red jeep that was the coolest car EVER and she constantly drank water only water refilling her water bottle around 4 times when she watched us. Because my mother was faced down she always offered to stay late and cook us dinner. A gesture that doesn’t seem much but meant a lot. She ended up being our babysitter for 2 full years. 

Before she went back to Connecticut she called my mom asking if she could see us before she left, my mom told her that she was at the hospital with my sister. She came to the hospital with tears streaming down her face and she found out my sister was diagnosed with cancer. 

When she arrived back to Loyola after Easter break, it was almost time for her to graduate. At the end of her senior year we held her a little graduation party as she was so much a part of our family. Her whole family joined and we knew she would always be so important to us. In many ways she raised me. 

I was alone for most of the years my sister battled and didn't have much to think about, but one thing I always remembered was Loyola and her red jeep. 

Its been years now and Im no longer 6, I now am graduating from the same school as her. She's happily married to the boyfriend she had throughout college. And I now know why Kerri chose Loyola, I now know why I felt called to go here, it wasn't just because of her or my family but its because of the environment Loyola provides, its comfort and kindness. 

 My mom and I were just talking about getting my graduation gear when we opened a gift of chocolates Kerri had sent to us last night and my mom said me “Tess I told you Kerris pregnant right”. A tear trickled down my face and I could not have been happier. The most amazing babysitter  person to have come into our life at such a difficult time was going to be a mother. Not only a mother but the most amazing mother. I am so overjoyed to hear that some tiny little human out there will be able to call her their mom. But more than anything this entire month has felt so full circle, as I begin graduation preparation and go on to live my life. 

I could never thank her enough for forever being a part of my family, even from a distance. She will always stand alone in importance to my time here at Loyola.