173 Days

173 Days till departure 

Today was one for the books. Today was the Semi-Final round of Festival. You have been working so hard as an actor on this show and there have been so many times that you have doubted yourself in the process. It has been interesting to watch you struggle to believe that you are enough in this role, as it is exactly how I always feel about most things I do in my life. More on you as an actor in a bit. You also have been the main coordinator for the day, which we were hosting. As the coordinator you have had to keep all the balls in the air, and organize not only our volunteers, but be the point person and face for everyone else involved in the day. You were responsible for over 300 people’s experience and it was an incredible amount of responsibility to place on your shoulders. 

The day started with you waking up and checking your email and finding out that you were accepted into UVM. So far you have heard from two schools and you are accepted at both of them. No matter what, you now have a choice about your future, and this week hopefully you will have even more schools to choose from. It is so surreal to see the world opening up for you and to imagine your future. Each day I say to myself, I cannot wait to see what happens next. 

Back to Festival, the day started a bit rocky with two strange lighting moments. You and I both were bothered by it, but I saw you really struggle with worry about whether you were somehow responsible for what happened. Of course, you weren’t, but I know that you must have been sitting with a lot of feelings throughout the day. Then it came to our turn to perform our show. Your first scene had a missed line and I watched you struggle to figure out how to not let it bother you. That scene was a bit rough for you, but you have created such a believable character that it actually seemed intentional. The rest of the play you were so careful about listening to your scene partners and hands down you and your cast mates delivered some of the most sophisticated student acting I have ever seen. 

At the end of the day the judges called your name first to win an All-Star Acting Award. I saw you receive the news with true surprise and genuine humility. Your sibling was there cheering you on and so was dad, it was so special to have the whole family share that moment. As if that wasn’t enough, several people stopped me to tell me how brilliant you were, and then the judge stopped dad and I to say that you were an exceptional performer and that you really have a true gift. 

As a parent I want so many things for you but high on the list is that others see in you what I see in you. To have so many people validate your work and to recognize all the wonderful traits and qualities you have is all that I could ask for. My darling girl, I say all the time that you are a bright shining star; I know it, your family knows it, and it is so affirming to see that when you share that light with others, they know it too.