Kenneth Grahame

There are many influential people in my life. Nan Wharton--my drama teacher from high school--who helped me find courage and develop the skill to perform in front of others. Matthew Cooper--trained me while I served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints--helping me learn ways to share the gospel. Many friends who have given me support while going through school. Most of all my parents. It would be hard to tell you all the things that they have done for me. So I will endeavor to tell you a few things that they have done for me. In High School I was heavily involved in the theatre program and working at Mountain View Veterinary Health Center as Kennel/Custodial (which basically means that I was in charge of all the boarding animals). Both required that I wake up early every day and stay out till late in the evening. Whether I was on my way to an early morning rehearsal or heading to one of the clinics to walk and feed all the animals; I was generally the first one up and the last one down every day. Every once in a while I would run into my older brother Highland and he would jokingly say, "Gosh, do you still live here? I haven't seen you for days." This was true and made even more sad because our rooms were directly across the hall from each other. To be honest I didn't really think that much of it at the time, but, every once in a while I would actually be home with neither work or rehearsal to take me away. Well, unless you count homework. It was at times like this that my mom--who also worked--would come up next to me and say, "Hey bud, long time no see. How are you doing?" She would then proceed to give me a hug and follow up with me on what was going on in my life. It wasn't until years later while teaching the importance of families to people in Detroit that I was able to draw on this experience. Relating to another family how much my mom cared about me. That even though she had her own career she would much rather have been at home. Her job made it so she couldn't help out at school with my shows. She even apologized a few times that she couldn't be there like some of the other moms and dads. She regardless was giving me support by just letting me know she loved me through that simple act. My dad also did similar things to show me that love. Whenever I had problems I was going through I never shared them with anyone. I still today don't always open up, though I have become slightly better at sharing. Whenever I had something weighing heavily on my mind my dad could just tell. The cool thing about this is that he would never push me to tell him anything. He would just ask and then wait until I was ready to share. Often that was all I needed to get over whatever was on my mind. Knowing that if I ever wanted to talk he would be there to listen. Growing up is hard. I knew by listening to a few of my peers complain about their parents that I was very lucky. Even if I had parents I never saw sometimes or didn't always confide in them. I knew they cared. They wanted what was best for me.