Hope 2022

    

I'm often asked "what's Hope up to these days?" 

Well, the short answer is...she's back in school working toward her degree in Library Science. But her story is so much more than this blog post will allow.

A few weeks ago, she was recognized at the IVCC Scholarship reception for winning the Bud Connelly (a WWII vet) scholarship for part-time students. Aside from school, she is also working full-time at a local sushi restaurant and volunteering at a nearby library.  And when she's not doing any of THOSE things, she's usually out hiking somewhere or reading a book at home with her "child" Bernie (the cat). 

Hope was honored with the Bud Connelly Award at the I.V.C.C. Scholarship Reception

Hope took an interesting path to get where she is today and I only wish I'd been brave enough to do the things she's done at her age.

After high school graduation, she did what most kids do...went to college. After a year and a half at IV, she decided she really wasn't sure what she wanted to do with the rest of her life, but knew that she did not want to incur additional debt trying to figure it out. She applied to the Americorps Vista program and accepted a position in Green River, Utah working with a rural youth program for a year and a half.

Her location in Utah was situated centrally between the "Mighty 5" National Parks:  Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce, Capital Reef and Zion. While Hope has always been "outdoorsy" in that she loved hiking and exploring the local parks here in IL, it was in Utah that she really learned an appreciation for the beauty of nature and protecting the environment.  With approximately 72% of the land in Utah being public land, she and her friends spent much of their downtime pitching tents wherever their travels through slot canyons, mountain peaks or the desert landed them. It was also in Utah that she became (not so) famous as she was featured in a French techno music video which you can view in all it's glory below:

. 

Mill Creek Canyon, Moab, Utah

After Utah, she came home for a summer where she applied and was accepted to Emerson College in Boston, MA. Unfortunately, due to the expense and amount of debt she would incur to attend there, she made the difficult decision to decline.  She did however, spend the following year in Hartford, CT with one of her best friends...affording her the opportunity to experience life on the East coast. It was here that she worked for a locally renowned chocolate store known as Bridgewater Chocolates where she learned how to make the infamous gold bow that has adorned all of her Christmas gifts every year after.

Bridgewater Village Store, Bridgewater, CT

She returned home the following summer and once again, was provided an opportunity to move back to the west with her cousin in Arizona.  She spent another 3 years there, where the highlight of her stay (aside from some of the country's most beautiful views & hikes) was working at Rainforest Cafe. She moved back to IL after the pandemic hit and businesses began to shut down taking a hard hit on the service industries.

Mather's Point, Grand Canyon, Arizona

They say everything happens for a reason...Hope has said several times the past two months that she was "where she needed to be" this summer, even if Illinois wasn't at the top of her list of places to move to in 2020. She was able to spend more time with TJ over the last year, as they were both living in the same area, and she was able to be here with family after his passing.

Watching her overcome all of the obstacles with moving, pandemics, college funding, and especially as she navigates the recent loss of her brother, has shown me what a resilient, admirable, and amazing young woman she has grown to be. I am soooo proud of her and what she has and continues to achieve in her life.

There is a saying that goes something like this; "To raise a child, who is comfortable enough to leave you, means you've done your job.  They are not ours to keep, but to teach how to soar on their own." Watching her soar on her own is one of my greatest joys as her mom. 

Keep stretching those wings, Hope...the sky has no limits!  You not only have an entire tribe of family and friends rooting for you on this side of earth, but you now have a raucous, trail-blazing, celestial hellion above you who is joyfully brandishing a blow-torch to clear any obstacles blocking your way.  I have no doubt that he will be lighting your path with the largest fire possible...just keep following that blaze!