Essential Question 14

Things I Am Thankful For

     I am so thankful for my teammates I play with and the coaches that coach me during school athletics. Everyone of the girls on the soccer team, the basketball team, and the girls and boys on the track team mean so much to me. Over the past four years they have all helped me, encouraged me, been there for me, made me laugh, and feel like I belong. I have had some of the best and most memorable times with them. I am very lucky and honored to have played and ran with those amazing people. All of them have had a hand and shaping who I am; but it's not just the peers I play with that have changed my life, it's the coaches. I've had some amazing coaches over the years playing school sports. I know I could call upon any of them for help with anything and they would try to help me. Coaches are the people that lead and teach teams the right things and important details about their sport, but they also lead and teach the right things and important details in life; at least that's what my coaches have done for me. 

     I am always thankful for my family; I couldn't make it without them. But this year I'm most thankful for the time I had with my Pap and the time I still have. Last year my Pap had a major heart attack and went on to have a triple bypass surgery. After his surgery he was doing very well and was sent home in time for Christmas, but on Christmas Eve he had a paralyzing stroke. Now he is completely paralyzed on the right side, he cannot speak, and we aren't sure what he remembers and doesn't remember. I am so thankful for the time that I got to spend with that amazing man, wether we were fishing or watching the Red sox. I realize now how important those moments were, and even though he is not the same Pap I used to know I am thankful for our time together now. I watched him flatline and be brought back three times on Christmas Eve and he very easily could not be here now, so I am thankful for every minute that he is. 

     I really enjoy living in a small town and pretty rural area. I am thankful that Elkins, West Virginia is where my family has taken roots. For a majority of my childhood my family and I lived in New York, and when we moved to Elkins it finally felt like we were home. It's really nice to go out and town and see a lot of great, nice people you know. The Elkins Community really is a loving one. I feel like there is support from everyone. There is also always so many community events from sporting events, to youth clubs, and fund raisers where you can have fun with fellow members of your community. I feel really privileged to live in a place like this and for that I'm so very thankful.