Thank You

Albright helped me bloom into the me I’ve always dreamed of being. As a whole, Albright is kinda weird (iykyk), but the people are what make it incredible. There are so many who helped me get here. To name a few: Mike Miller, Katy Mangold, Maria Melendez, Beth Keister, Amanda Walck, Brooke Shade-Rodriguez, Lacey Kondracki, and Frank Schaeffer. Thank you all for your tremendous kindness over my 4 years. You are an invaluable asset to Albright students and I’ll remember your impact forever.

Alicia has been my therapist for the last few years and I have no idea where I’d be without her. Alicia, thank you for helping me reach my full potential. Your unwavering support and encouragement have helped me through some of my toughest times and I can never thank you enough for that. I look up to you as both a psychology professional and a person – I want to be like you when I grow up. Thank you for believing in me!

Abby, thank you for being my practicum supervisor. There isn’t a better professional I could have worked with – our time together was invaluable and I’m so grateful I get to learn from you!

Chloe, you’re the greatest stepsister a girl could ask for. You’re smart, funny, and you inspire me creatively. I love you and I hope you’ll illustrate my next book 😉

Cindy, thank you so much for generously agreeing to edit my book. I value the ways our relationship has changed from coworkers, to babysitter, and now to professional colleagues. Thank you for untangling the wonderfully jumbled mess of ideas and love that I had for this book. Thank you for helping make it perfect!

Dad, thank you for your unwavering support in general, and specifically for this book. You encourage me to always pursue my big, crazy ideas and I’m grateful for that. I love you!

Dr. Denise, thank you for being a phenomenal child life professor. You continue to make a profound impact on me and I will surely be a better professional because of your influence. Thank you for your support for this idea!

Dyl, thanks for being a great brother and a great

Maddie, thank you for being my best friend and biggest supporter. It’s crazy to think that we were kids together and now we’re both in charge of kids. I love going through life together and I can’t thank you enough for your evergreen friendship. You’re my person. I love you!

Mom & Dad, thank you for being my second (actually wait, third?) set of parents and welcoming me into your home like family. I’m so grateful that I get to learn from you both. Thank you for always supporting me and entertaining my crazy stories. Love you!

Auntie KK & Uncle Andrew, thank you for adopting me into your family during my first year in Pittsburgh. I wouldn’t have lasted if I didn’t have you guys to lean on and your white couch to sleep on. Thank you for helping me learn to thrive here, and thank you for giving the world Lyla!

Lyla Kay, thank you for being the life raft on some of my roughest feelings waves. You bring joy to all those around you and I know this book, your book, will do the same. I’m grateful to be your cousin and I’m grateful I could make this book happen – it is truly for you. I love you Jib!

Nicky & Wilson, thank you for being a constant in my life. I know I can always count on you, and you proved that again by helping me through this book process. Thank you for supporting my ideas and cheering me on. I love you!

Lionel & Theo, I love seeing the world through your eyes. I think this book draws a lot of inspiration from the color you bring to our family and your wild child spirits. Can you spot any characters that look familiar?? I already have ideas for books about you guys 🙂

Sarah, Grace, Brooke, Mikaela, and Nikki, thank you for being the best group of grad school friends a girl could ask for. Thank you for supporting me on all the stressful days, commiserating through big assignments and celebrating with me on the other side. My experience would be nothing without you and I’m going to miss you all tremendously.

Grammy, thank you for supporting me and all of my hobbies over the years. I remember sharing books and gardening with you when I was little, and I think of you when I do those things in my own apartment now. I love you and I appreciate you!

Grandma & Papa, thank you for always being supportive of and interested in me and my endeavors. I’m a better person because I get to learn from you both. Knowing you is a gift that I am forever thankful for. I love you!

My little sister, the first person I told about this crazy idea I had to write a book (and also the LAST to finally read the book but I’ll let that slide). Thank you for cheering me on and always encouraging my crazy ideas. I love you and I hope this finally makes you think I’m cool.

Hazel, from the first time I saw your work I knew I wanted you to illustrate my book. Thank you for your tireless- and flawless- work to bring my vision to life. You make it look easy though I know it’s anything but. I could not have asked for a better illustrator and I’m excited to work together again soon.

Jen, Laney, and Kylee, thank you for being my family. Life has given us a lot of lemons but we’ve made some pretty great lemonade out of them, together. You all inspire me to be my best and do my best. I wouldn’t be who I am without the impact each of you has made on me. I love you guys!!! ❤

Mr. Comferford, thank you for laying the foundation for my success in English classes. I attribute my high AP scores and success in college writing classes to your teachings. Every time I remember a rule, or end a sentence in a preposition, I think of you. Your class left an impact on me as a writer and as a person, and I cannot thank you enough for your influence.

Mr. Dramby, thank you for helping to shape who I am. Your classes helped me learn about myself, my morals and beliefs, and what it takes to make a good person. I continue to look up to you and it makes me SO happy to see you crushing it in charge of Mini-THON!! Wyo Mini-THON is where this all started for me and I know it’s in the best hands. Learning from you is a privilege – thank you for being my teacher : )

Mr. Stanchek, thank you for creating a safe place for me as a student to explore my creativity and connect it to my real life. I often think back to the folder project and how much I appreciated working on something that I cared about – I felt that way while working on my book, too. You helped me while I was grieving Laney as both a compassionate person and as an English teacher who encouraged writing as a coping tool. Thank you for being there and for being constant. I’m a better person because I had you as a teacher.

Ms. Haubrich, thank you for believing in me and helping me realize I could be a good leader and do important, scary things. You gave me the confidence to be brave with the security of knowing you were always right there to help me if I needed it. You supported and encouraged my passion for Mini-THON, which led me here. I look up to you professionally and personally – you’re truly one of the best. Thank you for being you and helping me become me.

Ms. Leber, thank you for supporting me in all the ways I’ve needed since I was a teenager. Thank you for making homeroom fun, for encouraging me through the college application process, thank you for giving me reality checks when needed and thank you for caring for me as a friend into adulthood. You’re the best teacher/mentor/big sister I’ve always wanted and I appreciate you endlessly. ❤

Mrs. Landrum, I don’t think I have enough words to thank you. Thank you for being such a positive influence and safe person for me at some pretty critical moments. On top of being a good person, you’re so smart, funny, professional, such a good mom and an overall badass. I’ve looked up to you from the start and I always will. Thank you for accepting how weird I was in 7th grade (I’m still that weird, I just hide it better now) and remaining a constant all the way through graduation and into adulthood. Thank you for going above and beyond to take care of my friends who needed it. Thank you for reigniting my love for reading and writing! Your love for reading and stellar picks for us in class (read: The Hunger Games and They Cage the Animals at Night) and passion for grammar helped me enjoy reading again and ultimately planted the seeds for writing my first book. If I make even a fraction of the impact that you made on me on someone else, I will consider my life a success. Thank you for everything. ❤

Mrs. Mangold, thank you for being a role model as to the type of person and professional I want to be. Since 7th grade, I knew I wanted to be like you when I grew up. This book wouldn’t exist without your influence – it really all started with you and Mini-THON! I can’t thank you enough.

Mrs. Ostrich, thank you for being my English teacher. I remember lessons from you and use them often in my personal and professional lives, but above all when writing this book. Thank you for shaping who I am as a person, and as a writer!

Mommom & Poppop, thank you for always being there for me. I know there isn’t a thing in the world you wouldn’t do for me, and I appreciate your support more than anything. My life is better because you are in it. I’m thankful that you’re my grandparents. I love you!

Nana & Pappy, thank you for always being there. There isn’t a special event that you aren’t at and I love that we get to share so much life together. You made all of us better people and being your grandchild is a privilege. I love you!

Nanny & Pop, thank you for being my grandparents! I’m so lucky to have you in my life and my family. Being your great-grandchild is a gift. You helped make me who I am – thank you!

Poppop, thank you for being my grandfather. You were always there and you always encouraged my love for writing. You make me a better person and author, and I’m lucky to have you and Lynn. I love you!