My Favorite Staff

Yesterday S left. I almost cried. I almost tried to lock her in her room and force her to stay. I am very sad she is gone.

S is studying abroad in Italy this semester and I knew she would be leaving a week early. I didn't know that this would be the craziest summer of all time and that she would turn in to my left hand. As I was challenged with unforeseen responsibilities, S was the one who picked up the slack and took on so many of the things I should have spent my summer doing. She was the one who lead activities and helped me create programming. She missed a lot of breaks, a lot of nights off, and worked really hard, never complaining, always smiling. She single handedly got me through this summer without realizing just how much support I found in her positive attitude and sense of humor.

Before she left, we exchanged cards, and she hugged me, telling me I was like the big sister she never had. I wanted to cry. How do you say thank you to someone who has done so much for you and then continues by saying such nice things? Later I read the card she'd given me and finally did cry, because what she wrote was the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. She made all of the hard work this summer worth it. It is nice to know what you do matters, and she let me know that I made an impact. And that's just the greatest thing someone can give.

And now she is gone, and I am sick and I don't know how I will make it through this week without her.