During these unprecedented times when it seems okay for people to be not very nice to each other at so many levels, I received this message from one of my former Gilbert El kiddos the other night. She is an amazing young lady and always was. The night she was approved as a new assistant principal in Gilbert, I asked our Board President if I could say something about her and how proud I was of her. I meant every word.
Last week I received this from her and it made my day (week, month, etc.):
Hi Sheila. I hope I’m ok to do this, but I just had to reach out. I have been in GPS for either 1 month or since 2nd grade at Gilbert El, depending on when you start counting:). In that month I have been met with one positive encounter after another, each one providing more affirmation that I made the right choice. It was hard to leave a place I loved, but I know it was for a place I will come to love even more. I have been excited to make the drive to Gilbert and my Wildcat team every single day. So...thank you for building a foundation of compassion, community and a growth mindset even before someone made a million using the phrase. It all mattered and made me who I am. Please know I remember it ALL: your reading to us ALL the time, hands across the border, peer mediators, student council, dances and family nights, plays and field days, science camp and oceanography club. Those experiences created a curiosity and love for learning that has led me back to GPS. Thank you for EVERYTHING!
And just a little bit more:
I truly mean every single word. I love you dearly and am so thankful for the experiences you supported . It helped me take risks and try new things it made me believe I could because I was a TOP CAT. A few weeks ago I stood on the MHS stage at freshman orientation and said to the class of 2025 “this is the place that built me. “ I sat in a classroom in B building sophomore year while the entire class (and school) watched the footage of 9-11 unfolding in real time. I took my voter registration card to my Senior Government class after voting in 2002 election for the first time eve and got extra credit. I met my husband and beat friend while I was a student (he went to Mountain View) and he watched me walk across the stage at graduation. I am honored to be home and I didn’t even know that I wasn’t before this summer. Thank you for everything. I’m putting your number in my phone now.
