Happy 18th Birthday Will!

Will - This was a year of challenges. We decided to move to Celina which meant new schools. This was your junior year of high school and you made the decision to move high schools even though we gave you the option of remaining at Independence. You said that you wanted to be able to spend your senior year going to school once more with Sam. You said that there will be lots of friends but only one Sam;) So, you transferred to Prosper HS, a school of almost 4,000. You also had knee surgery the summer before your junior year. Dad and I encouraged/ made you join the cross country team even though you weren't allowed to run for the entire season. We told you that was how you would make friends. You reminded us that this was a distance running sport and that it is hard to meet people when they are running away from you for miles at a time. But, you stuck with it. Your attitude wasn't super positive but you did it. You worked as a team manager helping out however you could. You found friends out of it just like we said you would:) Your knee surgery was a big deal. We thought you would just get the meniscus repaired but during surgery, the surgeon decided that you didn't have enough stability in your knee without an ACL. So, they repaired both your meniscus and built you an ACL with part of your quad muscle and your patella tendon. The doctors weren't really sure how recovery would work because rarely do they have someone with your situation who is also so active. Many of these kiddos are missing toes or even a foot. The fact that you are perfectly imperfect created a little challenge for them. But, you showed them how awesome you are! You did physical therapy and put the work in. Now you have two whole knees. You started working mowing lawns with some of the cross country kids. Although you have never mowed our own lawn before, you took some allergy meds and took on this new challenge. Ayden is your friend and also your boss. He says you are one of his hardest workers and that doesn't surprise me. You are a good kid and when you commit to someone, you commit. You spend a lot of time drawing in your room. You have made new friends but you still keep your circle small. Conner is still in that circle along with Braden but you don't see him too much. You do get together with Conner from time to time and still enjoy that time. You do hang out the the cross country boys now and again but you mostly enjoy staying at home and drawing. You are developing your craft and enjoy creating characters and storyboards. You have dreams and although I don't totally understand your creativity, I believe in you and will encourage your passion. You went to your first dance this year. You went with a group of girls and your friend Phoenix. He is your friend from cross country. Although you didn't really want to go to the dance, you did and actually enjoyed yourself. As a fellow introvert, I try to regularly remind you to go and do even when you don't feel like it. You rarely regret saying yes but often may regret saying no. Will, I know this year was tough and you challenged yourself more than you wanted to but I am super proud of you. You found a strength inside yourself I am not sure you knew you had. You went outside your comfort zone and found a place for yourself. Although you continue to try and fall back into your comfy spaces, I do try to continue to push you. You are a super sweet guy and many kids need a friend like you. I love you and Happy 18th Birthday Will!