From the words of John F. Kennedy, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” The relationships we as people have with one another are so important in the society we live in. Connections can make all the difference in the world; throughout these connections in our lives, we find certain people who we love and are grateful for their existence. We can easily articulate thankfulness in words, but we should also express gratitude through the way that we live and serve others. My middle school health teacher, Mr. Johnson, has made a huge impact on how I now strive to live my life. Mr. J is the type of teacher who makes me laugh at his dumb jokes and sarcastic humor. The part about him that I appreciate the most, is that he’s a great listener. If I ever need to get something off my chest or simply want to have a conversation with him, he doesn’t listen, he takes the time to actually hear me. Our conversations don’t even need to be about things that are important. Sometimes we talk about my next soccer game, or what we did the previous night. I love hearing about his experiences and the stories he tells me. Now that I know how good it feels to have someone to genuinely listen and converse with, I strive to be that person for my friends, family, and anyone who needs some positivity. Mr. Johnson knows the secret to validation is being heard and appreciated. He did not reserve that secret for only the visibly struggling kids or the most popular kids in school. I’ve never been that kid who needs a ton of help during school, but I’m also not the top student, but I worked hard. I buried myself in my hard classes and didn’t pay attention to the people in my life as much as I had in the past. I was struggling to find the right balance, so I went to Mr. J for advice. He said that the connections we have with one another are really the most important things people can have. It’s not what we know, but the people we know. All work and no play is not the path to a meaningful life. We need to meet people, build strong relationships, and make memories. This advice made me realize that I needed to slow down and look around at the beautiful opportunities life has to offer. In addition, make time for the things I enjoy. Making memories is by far the best thing we as humans experience. The reason why I am majoring in elementary education at Concordia College Moorhead is because I seek to be that person who can make a great impact on kids just like the way Mr. J did on me. Kids have such lively and bright personalities. My goal is to positively relate to each student in their own individual way. I want to reach as many hearts as possible. The rich experiences we share may ultimately shape their lives. These kids are the future generation and I want them to be successful, happy, and healthy human beings. Mr. J’s kindness and compassion show me that personal relationships with one another help our emotional well-being. Little things like a simple smile or “good morning” can make someone’s day better. Mr. Johnson’s approach to building positive relationships and his honest advice motivate me to be a better human and live life to the fullest.

Life: what a peculiar and cherishable adventure. Slow down and explore. “The purpose of life, after all, is to live it”. ~Elenor Roosevelt Family and the people I love are the most essential parts of life and learning. One person, in particular, stands out, my best friend Andrew. We went to high school together, prom, had band class together, and went on many enjoyable dates. Andrew was the type of person who would walk over hot coals for me, who could make anyone smile with his contagious laugh, who was willing to help anyone rain or shine and who lived his life with joy. Andrew was a jovial soul and truly the happiest human I’ve ever met. He was going to college to become an auto tech mechanic. That was his passion, among other things like playing saxophone. He was one of the best musicians I’ve ever encountered. Earlier this year, Andrew passed away from a tragic accident at the age of 18. Andrew has made an everlasting and beautiful impact on who I am as a person. We should all live our lives the way Andrew did. Look out for one another, check up on each other, help our neighbors, love one another, and most importantly, live in the moment and always cherish the people we have in our lives. Life is the greatest gift that comes with the most amazing experiences. It matters how you use your time. Andrew made every second of his count. You never know how much you have until you lose it. Andrew’s charismatic, and kind character helped me to understand why life is a gift. The random day-to-day things that he would do made me laugh and smile. Especially his red Toyota hat that he loved to wear, his laugh, clumsiness, and his greetings and goodbyes. His quirks and funny traits are what made him who he was. He wasn’t afraid to be himself and live life to its fullest capacity. He was the first kind and caring young man that I’ve ever felt safe and connected to. There was always something to talk about or laugh at. From school to band, to prom, to friendship, to our dates/hangouts, to summer, and more, he showed me how to live and love. If you’re not doing something you love with your life, why live it then? Because of Andrew, I know how someone is supposed to treat me and how I’m supposed to treat them. The bar has been set. I know exactly what to look for because he showed me it can be done. Andrew’s ability to listen is admirable. I told him that my favorite food was sandwiches and the next time we hung out he made us sandwiches and we sat by the river enjoying each other's company. Even though the sandwiches were 80% bread, it still was still a great sandwich! It really is the thoughtfulness and little things that make life so meaningful. The extent to which Andrew cared for other people is exemplary. I’ve learned that in order to make the most of life, you need to be able to live in the moment and take a second to look around, enjoy it, have a purpose, and make an impact. I’ve learned it’s crucial to be yourself and do what you love and are passionate about. It is okay to be vulnerable, but vital to stop caring about what others may think. Just take time to enjoy those personal moments life has to offer. Take nothing for granted. You never know how much time you’ll be given.