I remember the day my freshman year when the terrible news of Mr. Gentile’s passing was broken to us. I never had him as a teacher, but that day at school everything still seemed off, as if something was missing from the halls I had walked everyday. Looking back on it, there is no doubt that I, as was everyone else, was feeling the loss of a truly kind person, a person whose big heart touched almost everyone in some way—even those who never really got to know him that well. Even to this day, I still hear about his kindness and his character. I wish I would have been able to have had the privilege of meeting Mr. Gentile because I feel I could have learned a lot from him—both in the classroom and as a person. His character was one I’ve always strived to emulate, and whose legacy I hope to be able to live up to in my own life. There have been many ways in which I’ve hoped to use a big heart to help others. Whether it was in the classroom, in my sports, my extracurriculars, or just in my day-to-day life, I have always tried to see the people around me first and foremost. I always try to greet everyone I see with a warm smile and a kind word, letting them know that they are seen and appreciated. I try to make sure to check in with everyone as well, to ask them how they are doing and about their interests and recent events. I’ve seen even these small gestures help others open up and lift their mood; it’s incredible the effect that even a small invested interest can have on a person. You can often find me after my practices talking with the security guards at their desks or congratulating a friend in the parking lot. It’s small things like these that really help to brighten others’ days, and it’s a thing I see myself continuing to do throughout my life. As an athlete, too, I know firsthand how hard it can be to compete. It can be incredibly easy to get focused on winning and forget about the personal journey that led an athlete to where they are now. It’s why I’m always the first one there to support my teammates in a tough workout, encouraging them to push on, listening intently to their struggles and triumphs, and reminding them of all that they have accomplished. My extracurriculars have also greatly allowed me to show kindness to others. My position in SGA allowed me the unique opportunity to be able to connect with not only the students around me, but with the staff as well. Being able to collaborate with my peers to truly show our staff the appreciation they deserve has been some of my happiest moments in high school. It’s for all these reasons that the Mr. Rogers superlative this year was one of the awards I was most proud of winning. It brings me joy knowing that my friends were moved enough by my actions to vote me for this superlative, and that perhaps I was able to make a little difference in the lives of so many around me. It’s something that I know Mr. Gentile devoted his entire life to doing, and it’s a huge consolation to know that perhaps I was able to reflect some of the qualities that made him such a special person to so many.