The Gates - 2025 Autumn by Academy of Notre Dame de Namur

LetterFromtheEditors

ByCalleighNewbert‘26andMeredithRinaldi‘26

Helloreaders!

Wehopeeveryoneishavingagreatstarttothe2025-2026schoolyearandwethankyousomuchfor takingthetimetoreadourfirstissueofTheGates!Wehavesomuchexcitingworktoshareinthisissue withallofyou.Fromreflections,tointerviews,tocrosswordpuzzles,thisissuefeaturesabroadrangeof fascinatingwork.

Asweallknow,fallisabusytimeforeveryone–thenewschoolyearstarting,adjustingtopost-summer life,andtheaddedstresstoseniorsastheyembarkontheircollegeapplicationjourney.Fallisfast;there aresomanythingsoccurringinone’slife,thatittakesawayfromthebeautyoftheseason.Ifonedoes nottaketimetopauseandbepresent,onewillmissoutonthebeautythisfast-pacedseasonhastooffer. Hopefully,allofyoureaderscanfindatimeinyourbusylivestositdown,readthesearticles,andreflect uponwhatyouread.

PartofourhopeforTheGatesthisyearistoexpandthecontentoftheissues.Ifanyonehasanypieceof work,whetheritbeareflectiononatrivialevent,creativewriting,oraspotlightonaNotreDameclub, pleasefeelfreetocontributeyourwork!

Lastly,wewouldliketothankthosewhohavecontributedtothisissueofTheGates.Welovereading yourwork,andTheGatesisasuccessfulpaperbecauseofyouall.

WithGratitude,

CalleighNewbert‘26andMeredithRinaldi‘26

InterviewwithNewDirectorofInclusivePrograms& Belonging:Ms.Webb

ConductedbyMalloryDubois‘28

Q.Whathavebeenthebiggestsurprisesandchallengesoftraveling andworkingformanydifferingschoolsinmultiplestates?

A.Thebiggestchallengewithgoingtomultipledifferentschoolsina coupleofyearsisthenewnessofitall.Everythingisnewallatonce, andIhadtolearnhoweverythingworkedattheseplacesquickly.

Q.Whathasitbeenliketransitioningfromworkinginaco-edcollege toagirlsʼcollegeprepschool,rangingfromsixthtotwelfthgrade?

A.Itʼsbeenveryinterestingtoseewhereeveryonegoestocollege. Manycollegesthatmanygirlsgotohavethevaluesthatwehave.It hasalsobeeninterestingtoseethedifferencewiththesupportgiven tothestudents.Here,theteachersareworkingtogetherwiththegirls, whileincolleges,it'slesshands-on.

Q.DoyoubelievethatNotreDameispreparingitsstudentsfortheacademicrigorofcollege?

A.Yes,hereIseemanygirlswhotakeownershipoftheirowneducationatNotreDame,whichisimportant. Thisownershiphelpspreparethestudentsfortherigorofcollege.Incollege,youhavetoadvocatefor yourself,andNotreDamehelpswiththatbecauseitshowsthestudentsthattheymustgototheteachers themselves.Also,incollege,youhavetodecideforyourselfwhatyouwilldoanddecidewhenyouwilldoit, becausecollegeforcesyoutobecomeindependent.

Q.WhatareyouhopingtoaccomplishthroughtheDEIBprogramthisyear?

A.ThisyearIhopetogetasenseofthecommunityhereandtocreatebelonging.Iwanttheworkthatisdone nowtosnowballthroughtheyears,andforittocontinuewithouryoungeststudents,evenwhentheyleave NotreDame.Ialsowanttofosterastrongersenseofbelongingforall.

Q.IsthereanythingthatyouwantpeopletoknowaboutNotreDameʼsDEIBprogram?

A.TheDEIBprogramisnowcalledInclusiveProgramsandBelonging.Thisprogramisforall,andit'snotjust forspecificpeople;itʼseveryoneʼstask.Ibelievethateveryoneshouldworkforandfeelasenseofbelonging attheirschool.

Sunflowers&Medicine

ByAlinaTuwalski‘27

Asthe20252026academicyearbegins,newclubshave emerged.AttheActivitiesFairinSeptember,oneofthesenew clubscreatedwasSunflowersandMedicine.Sunflowersand Medicine,foundedbyMarilynOrlowski‘28andEmmeVirta‘28,is aclubthatisdedicatedtothefieldandworkofmedicine.Marilyn andEmmefoundedthisclubforthepurposeoftheirpassionfor medicineandtheopportunitiesthatliebeyondthefields.Beyond thegates,theyalsohopetoworkinmedicalcareers.

SunflowersandMedicinenotonlyfocusesonthedefinitionof medicineandwhatthefieldsentail,butitalsohasthreemain aspectsfortheclub.Theseaspectsarevolunteeropportunities, fundraisers,andtheFutureHealthProfessionals(formerlyHealth OccupationsStudentsofAmerica,HOSA)competitions.Emme‘28 states,“Startingthisclubhasmeantsomuchtome,andIhope othersappreciatetheopportunitiesthattheywillexperience.Ialso hopethatthisclubwillbecomeaspecialpartofNDformanyyears tocome!ˮ

Forvolunteeringandfundraising,themaingoaloftheclubisto supportandprovideforlocalhospitalsandthecommunity.During theirvolunteeropportunities,theirgoalistobringasmallgroupof studentstohavehands-onexperienceandunderstandwhatthe needsofthecommunityare.Forfundraising,theynotonly fundraisemoney,butalsobooksandtoysforthehospitals.Their goalistospreadawarenesstopeopleabouttheneedsofthe community.

ThroughtheHOSACompetitions,theyprovideabetter understandingofmedicineandthemedicalfields.These competitionsalsoallowstudentstodemonstratetheirknowledge ofmedicinetotheworld.Marilyn‘28remarks:“Iʼmexcitedtosee wherethisclubtakesusandlearnmoreaboutthemedicalfield,all whilehelpingthoseinourcommunity!ˮ

AMETTripReflection

ByMeredithRinaldi‘26

ThispastSeptember,Ialongwithmyfellow seniorclassattendedtheMETtrip.The METtripisalongstandingseniortradition, andIhadtheprivilegetoattendthe twentiethanniversaryofthetrip.Alongthe waytoNewYorkCity,therewereacouple hiccups.Myclasssatinthebuslanefor aboutthirtyminutesastherewasabroken downbusacouplebusesup.Whenwe finallyreversedoutofthebuslaneback intonormaltraffic,thebrokendownbus wasmoved,andthebuslanestarted movingextremelyquickly.

WhenwearrivedattheMET,allthese troublesquicklyfadedasmyclasswasso excitedtoexploretheMET.Wewenton tourswithDr.Califf,metwithNotreDame alum,RachelSmith‘15,andexploredallof theseexhibitsthemuseumhadtooffer.

BeforegoingtotheMETIwasabit apprehensivebecauseIhadnever understoodtheappealofart;however,this changedwhenIwenttotheMET.SinceI wasmoregrownupandhadmore knowledge,IwasabletointegratewhatI havelearnedfromlifeandschoolcourses intounderstandingthecontextandpurpose oftheart.Itwasentertainingtoseeart piecesIhaveseenonlineinperson, understandingthehistoricalcontextofa specificpiece,andmakingconnections acrosssubjectsandregions.IlefttheMET withanewinterestandappreciationIhad notanticipated.

FlyingHigh&ReadytoRiseAgain!

ByMargueriteLilley‘27

EvenfromtheMainLine,youcanfeeltheenergyonEaglesʼ gamedayseverywhereyougo.Greenfillsstorewindows andcoverscrowds,andjustabouteverycorneryouturn, youcanheara“GoBirds!ˮorheara“FlyEaglesFlyˮchant breakout.Thehopesarehighandexcitementfillstheair, justasitdidatthebeginningofthe2025season.

TheEaglesopenedtheir2025seasonflyinghigh.Riding theirdecisiveSuperBowlwinlastFebruary,theypulledout fourwinsintheirfirstfourgames,establishinga promisinglysuccessfulseasonaheadandfeedingintohigh hopesforPhillyfans.QuarterbackJalenHurtsmaintained thesame

confidenceandfocusthatcatapultedlastwinter'schampionshiprun.Thedefenseappeareddominant,blockingtwofield goalsinonegameinweekthree,holdingopponentstolowscores,andforcingturnovers.Witheachwin,theEagles remindedAmericathattheyʼrethedefendingchampionsandtheirvictoriesstoodasproofthattheywerepreparedto preservetheirtitleforanotheryear.Byweek4,PhiladelphiastooddominantintheNFCEastwitha40startandan optimisticfuture.

Butthemomentumcouldnʼtlastforever.Week5broughtadestabilizinglossagainsttheDenverBroncos,followedbyan incrediblydisappointingupsetlossagainstthe14Giants.ThelosstoDenverdidnʼtsimplybreaka4-gamestreak,buta 10-gamewinningstreak,datingbacktoDecemberof2024.Theseback-to-backlossesrevealedweaknessesthatwere blissfullyoverlookedinthemidstofPhiladelphiaʼsseasonkick-offwinningstreak.Theoffense,formerlydynamicand unpredictable,begantocrackasopponentsbegantoanticipateplays.Asmanycriticsnoted,Philadelphiaʼsoffense becamepredictableandthereforeeasilycounteredbyopposingdefenses.Additionally,theabruptretirementofdefensive endZa'DariusSmithdamagedtheteamʼsdefensiveline,hisabsenceleavingavisiblegapinthepassrush.Fanswho initiallyhadfullconfidenceintheirteambegintowonderwhatwentwrong.

However,resilienceisandalwayshasbeenacorecomponentofPhiladelphiafootball.Teamleadershavemadeitclearthat theseasonisfarfromover,andthisisonlythebeginningofalong,favorableseasonahead.Withanincrediblytalented rosterandunwaveringlysupportivefanbase,Philadelphiafootballhasallthedevicesneededforasuccessfulrebound.This Sunday,theteamhastheopportunitytoreclaimtheirrhythmastheytakeontheMinnesotaVikings,atoughand challengingopponent.

ThroughoutPhiladelphiaandthegreaterPhiladelphiaarea,optimismremains.Despitethediscouragingoutcomesofthe pasttwoweeks,theEagles'spiritisstillseeneverywhereyoulook,andtheupcomingSundaywillbringthesameoptimistic excitementasanyotherweek.TheEaglesmayhavestumbled,butaseveryfanknowsandrivalfears,thebirdsneverstay downforlong.

5 Fall2025

AMETTripReflection,Continued

OurtimeinNewYorkwasnotoverwiththeconclusionofourtimeattheMET,though. Fordinner,myclassandIattendedChelseaMarketinManhattan.Wewereexposed toalltypesoffood,andabletowalkaroundawindowshopforabit.

WhenwearrivedbacktoNotreDamethatnight,Ileftwithafulfillingexperienceanda newappreciationforsomethingIwouldnothaveotherwisehad.

WhoAreYou?-In500Words

ByCalleighNewbert‘26

Iadorewritingforthenewspaper:toexpressmyopinionsonanytopicinanycapacity,tolaymyideasbareforothers toread,andtocaptureanimageofmypassionsinwords.Toshape,bend,andderivemeaningfromthoughtand craftpurposeinparagraphs.Toawriter,wordsserveastheultimatetoolforcreativefreedom.Andthatisexactly whyIdespisethecollegeapplicationprocesssomuch.

Itsoundsabsurd:apersonwholovestowritehastheopportunitytocapturetheiressenceinaseriesofshort paragraphs.Bestofall, thepromptsarelargelyvague,leavingroomforendlesscreativity.Excepttheyarenot;every supplementalprompthasaseriesof“dosˮand“don'ts.ˮImpliedboxestohitandfulfilltomarketyourselfastheideal student.Inreality,theshortlengthandtopicconstraintsofcollegeessayscompelstudentstotailortheirideastothe preferencesofaninstitutionratherthanexpresstheirownbeliefsauthentically.Therefore,collegesdonotreceivethe holisticpictureofanindividual,butagenericandinauthenticimage.

Inothersections,liketheactivitiesandhonorsoftheCommonApp,furthertheneedforbrevityand misrepresentation.Withspaceforonlyfiveawardsandtenextracurriculars,studentsareforcedtocuratetheirvariety ofinterestsintoalistofthosemostimpressivetocolleges.AlthoughImayplacemoreimportanceonthehoursI spendtutoringmybrotheratnightorhikingontheweekends,listinginternshipsIhaveparticipatedinbettersuitsmy majorofComputerScience.Throughthoseoptimizations,collegesonlygainafalsesenseofmyidentity,ratherthan acomprehensiveunderstandingofwhatmakesmeauniquecandidatefortheschool.

Sowhydoweputsomucheffortintoapplicationsupplementsiftheyfailtorecognizeallourefforts?Despitethe limitedopportunitiesthatcollegeessaysprovidetoexpressyourself,theystillallowapersontoexpresstheirunique ideasinasmallcapacity.Withenoughcreativity,studentscanstillusesupplementalstobothshowofftheirwriting andsetthemapart.Similarly,thecollegeexperienceisultimatelywhatyoumakeofit,anditisimportanttomaximize thepotentialofwhatisinyourcontrol.

Ultimately,assomeonewhohasrecentlyfinishedthesupplementalwritingprocess,Icanonlyrecommendthat seniorsgivethemselvestimetothinkcreativelyabouttheirapproachtoessaydraftingandputtheirbestfootforward. However,itiscrucialtorememberthattheadmissionsprocessislargelyoutofyourcontrolandthattheworthofa studentdoesnotrestontheopinionsofonerepresentative.Writingismeanttobeappreciatedbyvariouspeoplein variousways,asshouldaperson.

SummerSchoolTripReflection

ByCreightonCzajkowski‘27

Thispastsummer,afewgroupsofadventurousteachers andstudentsfromNDwentbeyondthegates.Asthe studentsandteachersexploredeitherIceland,Argentina, Pariswiththedanceteam,orBostonwiththemiddle school,theygottoexperienceeverydaylifeinanew, totallydifferentplace.Additionally,eachgroupgotto learnaboutacompletelynewculture. Thisamazing experienceisonethatallofuswillneverforget. Weall tookawaydifferentmemoriesandwillbeabletoreflect onthecultureandspecialtimesweallhadtogether.

AsIthinkbackonthispricelessexperience,manythings cometomind. Themainexperiencesthatwereplanned willalwaysbeanamazingmemoryformysistersandI thatwewillalwayshave,butthelittlethingswillforever bemyfavoritepartofthewholething.Thelongbus rides,ourreflectionsasagroupeverynight,gettingto knowourtourguides,etc.,reallywerewhatmadethis tripsospecial.ThistriptoIcelandmademerealizethat learningaboutotherculturesandhowtheireverydaylife differsfromoursisimperativetoexpandingour knowledgeofothercultures.Whatwetakeawayfrom thisexperienceallowsustohoneinonthethingswe lovedwhilebeingthereandtheamazingthingswe experiencedailyinourownworldatNDAandour community,inturn,makingusawareofthegiftswehave andappreciatethemtothefullest.

MyexperienceinIcelandwascollectiveamongallofthe girlsonallofthetrips.Everythingwelearnedandlived onthesetripsbroughtusalltogetherassisterswitha newcohesivefeelingofenjoymentandfulfillment. Talkingwithoneofmyfriends,MonicaFeeney,whowent andappreciatedtheArgentinatrip,shehadexpressedto methatthetripopenedhereyestoanewculturethat influencedherdailylifeandprovidedasenseof accomplishment.

Additionally,Monicastillkeepsintouchwithher hostfamilytodayastheygaveherawarmand lovinghomewhileshewasthere. MeghanOwen andMonicasharedalotofthesametakeawaysof thetrip,andMeghanhighlightedthediversecity andpopulationofArgentinaandhowitwas somethingshehadneverexperiencedbefore. MeghanandMonicaʼsexperienceinArgentina relatestomyexperiencevisitingIcelandand exploringandlearningaboutthecountry.

InadditiontotheArgentinatrip,afewofmyfriends attendedtheParisexcursion.Theirexperiencewas abitdifferent,astheywentwiththedanceteam, butitalsogavethemallthesamebenefitsasthe IcelandtripandtheArgentinatripgavetoothers. Mytwofriends,AudreyandJohanna,areapartof theNDdanceteam.WhentalkingtoJohanna,she hademphasizedhowitwassofuntakingFrench danceclassesandlearningfromaFrenchteacher. Intheclassestheytook,Johannaenjoyedhertime becauseshesawthedifferentperspectivesthere wereindanceandhowitmaydifferinmanyother countries.BeinginParisenlightenedJohannawitha newculturewhilealsolearningaboutoneofher mostdedicatedpassions.TalkingtoAudrey,she hadpointedoutmostofthesamethingsJohanna did,buthighlightedthebondsmadeonthetrip betweenherandherteammates!Talkingtoallofmy friends,weallexperiencedanewcultureandhad oneofthemostmemorablemomentsinourlivesso far.Alloftheseamazingexperiencesandmemories wouldnothavebeenaccessibleandavailableifit werenotforNotreDameprovidinguswith opportunitiestogrowasyoungwomen.

MeetOurDirectorof MiddleSchoolMrsGartner!

ConductedbyCarolineDaniel‘27

QWhatbackgrounddoyouhaveinteaching,andhow hasitshapedtheeducatorthatyouaretoday?

AEarlyinhercareer,shespenttimeteachingand balancingthirty3rdgradersatacharterschoolinWest Philadelphia.Shesuccessfullyadaptedtothisenvironment andtotheneedsofthechildrenbydifferentiatingher instruction,learningnewteachingtechniques,and understandingeachchildindividually.Mrs.Gartnermetthe needsofherbelovedstudentsonalllevels:emotional, social,andacademic.Followingthis,shemovedtoNew YorkCityandworkedasareadingspecialistforchildren withspecialneeds.Asshecontinuedthroughouttheyears atthisschoolinNYC,shebecametheMiddleSchool DirectorandfinallytheDirectorofEducation.WhileMrs. Gartnerenjoyedhertimeatthisschool,sheeventually foundherselfatNotreDame.

QWhatcorevaluesdoyoucarrythroughoutyourlife andjobasaneducator?

AThroughherapproachabilityorcharismaticpersonality, Mrs.Gartnerwantstobesomeonewhoothersareexcited tobearound.Sheisveryempatheticandkindtoeveryone shemeets,alwaysgreetingthemwithasmile.

TheGates- Staff

EditorsinChief:CalleighNewbert‘26and MeredithRInaldi‘26

StaffWritersforIssue#1MalloryDubois‘28, AlinaTuwalski‘27,MeredithRinaldi‘26,Marguerite Lilley‘27,CalleighNewbert‘26,CarolineDaniel‘27 NewspaperGamesContributor:EllaBidez‘26

CryOverSpilledMilk-An OccasionalPaper

ByCalleighNewbert‘26

Ondayswhentheworldfeelsonfire,Iturn towardstheonemealIcanneverburn:acupof Cheerios.Thesubtlesweetnesslingersonmy tongueandinthebackofmymindlikeadistant memory,andtastesofatimewhenthatbland texture,thatgritanddullnesscharacteristicofa quickmeal,wassoftenedbythepresenceof familyandtheslowpassageoftime.Whena boringlifefelttolerablebecausethepeopleinit consumedallmyinterest.Asenseofplainness, andthefeelingofcomfortthatitaccompanies, isthesameemotionthatIhavebeenrunning fromsinceIcouldpickoutmyowncerealatthe grocerystore,andthesensationIrunbackto whenallsenseofthatcontrolislost.

Steppingoutofmycarat10PMonaTuesday,I foughttheurgetoshutmyeyesasIwalked wearilythroughthedoorwayofmyhouse.After sevenhoursofschool,threehoursofcrew,and anextratwoofnightclass,mybodyhad nothinglefttogive.Onlytheneedtoeat,study, andcollapseintobed.Downstairs,thelights wereoff,thewindowswereshut,andasilence hungintheair–onlybrokenbythesoundof slow,intentionedfootsteps.Iassumedthatafter alongdayofwork,myparentsmustbeasleep already,andinastrange,inexplicableway,that momentofsolitudefeltcomfortingafteradayof stressandsocialinteraction.Nevertheless,I heardthefaintbuzzingofatelevisionplaying theintroductiontoHowIMetYourMotherfrom anupstairsroom:anunfailingsignthatmydad wasstillawakeafterthelongday.After grabbingmyselfdinner,Iwouldrunupstairsto sayhello.

MeetOurDirectorofMiddle SchoolMrsGartner,

Continued

QWhatwasthebiggestinfluenceonyourcareer,andhow diditchangeyourperceptionofeducation?

AHerstudentsthatshetaughtthroughoutthefirstcoupleof yearsofherteachingcareerinPhiladelphiainspiredherto pursuehercallingevenfurther.Theytaughthernumerous lessonsofdetermination,adaptability,andkindness.These studentshelpedshapeherasthekind,strong,and personableeducatorsheistoday.

QWhatmadeyouchooseNotreDame?

ATheaspectofNotreDamethatstuckouttoMrs.Gartner themostwasthesisterhoodcommunity.Thisisavalueof NotreDamethatMrs.Gartnerhadyettoexperienceinher career,butwasalwayssomethingshefeltthatshewould enjoyandconnectwith.AshertimeatNDcontinues,she seessisterhoodcometolifeassheexperiencesallthe traditions,events,andteachingsthroughoutthecommunity.

QDoyouthinkthecommunityatNotreDamehas impactedanyaspectsofyourlife?

AAsshecontinuestoexperiencethepositivesofbeinga partofanall-girlstudentcommunityhereatND,shefinds herselfreevaluatingwhatshewantsforherdaughter.The charmingandwelcomingexperienceatNDiswhatdraws peopletoanall-girlsCatholicschool.Thesisterhoodaspect hasbecomeacorevaluewithinMrs.Gartner,whichisa majorreasonshelovesND.

QHowdoyoufeelaboutNotreDamenowandwhatare youexcitedaboutforthefuturehere?

AThisisnowherhome,andshefeelsatpeacewithmaking thisdrasticchangeofmovingbacktoPhiladelphia.Herlife haschangedsignificantlyforthebetterbecauseofNotre Dame,andshecannotwaitforittocontinuetoimprove.She iseagertojoininonallthefuntraditionsandeventsatNotre Dameaswellascontinuetogrowasaneducatorandleader whoinspiresthegirlshereatNotreDame.

CryOverSpilledMilk, Continued

Ishoveoffmybags,stepintothekitchen,and debateheatingthecontaineroflasagnaleftby mymominthefridge;however,thatlasagna wouldtakeatleastfiveminutestobake,andI lackedthepatiencetowastetimewheneach passingmomentprolongedtheseparation betweenmybedandme.Rather,Irummaged throughthepantrytoquicklypouracupof Cheeriosintoabowl,thensatatthecounterto scrollonmyphoneandlookovermyPhysics notes.Thescratchingofthepencilandkick drumofjazzfilledthesoundofsilencearound me,lightingthedarkroominthesoftartificial glowofalockscreen,andcreatingathumping beatlikefootsteps.Footstepsthatgradually grewnearerandnearer.

Frombehind,Ifeltmydadtaplightlyonmy shoulder.HequestionedwhyIhadnotcomeup tosaygoodnighttohimwhenIgothome.The tensioninhisvoicewassubtle,butcarriedan airofhurtIcouldnotignore.Floodedbyan instinctivedefensiveness,IrememberedthatI had,infact,plannedtogo,buthadgotten preoccupiedbyothertasks.Mymouthmoved fasterthanmythoughts.“Sorry,Iwas distracted,ˮIreplied,turningbacktomywork. Redintheface,mydadpointedtothemakeshift dinnerIhadmademyself.“Isthatallyouplanon eating,Calleigh?ˮHecontinued.“Ifyouare goingtopushyourselfawayandnottakecare ofyourself,thenwhydoIkeepstayingupuntil yougethome?ˮTheargumentpausedfora moment,andhestaredatme expectantly–searchingmyeyesforallthewords Irefusedtosay.Sothatʼswhyheʼsawake,I realized.Smilingfaintly,Iwhispered,“Iʼmsorry, youcanjustgotobednow.ˮ

CryOverSpilledMilk,Continued

Asheturnedtoleave,aknotbegantogrowinthepitofmystomach.Suddenly,sittinginarenewedsilence withmyemptybowlandsprawlingbags,Ibecamealltooawareofthebittertasteofoatsonmytongue,as anewfeeling,strongerthanexhaustion,creptintomymind.WhydidIkeepmakingmyselfacupof somethingIdidnʼtactuallyenjoyeverynightwhenthebetteroptiononlyrequiredabitofextratime?In truth,Iwonderedwhyapersonwouldsacrificeanythingtheyholdclosetotheirheart,ifonlytosavea momentinaday.Afterall,thosefewminutesofconversationwereoftenallIgotwithmyparentsinthe momentsthatourhecticschedulescollided.Andonthoserareoccasions,thedistancebetweenus seemedtogrow.

Itfeelsstrangehowtimewiththepeoplewhoraiseyouandshareeverywakingmomentofyourchildhood becomessoscarcewhenyounolongerneedaLittleLeaguesoftballcoachorpersonaltaxidriver.Thereis ajokethatmymomlikestotellateverysocialgathering:“Mydaughterkeepsherselfsobusy,webarely evenseeheranymore.ˮSuddenly,Ihadgrownaccustomedtomakingmyownbreakfast,actingasmyown transportation,andtakingprideinmyownindependence.Spendingsomuchtimelookingtowardsthe futurethatIwantedtobuildformyselfandthepersonIwantedtobe,Ineglectedthebeautyofagirlwho alreadyexistedandthegenuineconnectionsshehadworkedtirelesslytobuild.Asthepressureforthat girltogrowupheightened,sherespondedinsteadbyrejectingthatsideofherselfentirelytosinkentirely intopersonalambitions.Anditwasexhausting.Ultimately,thatlackoffullnessdidnotgrounditselfina physicalsensationIcouldchase,butthesenseoffulfillmentfosteredwiththepeopleIpushedaway.

Gettingupfromthekitchencounter,Iwalkedupstairstofindmydadturningoffthetelevisionandclimbing intobed.Lingeringthereinsilence,hepulledmeintoawordlesshug.Therewasnodialogueexchanged, butinthewarmthofthatembrace,IfeltasifthemillionwordsIcouldnotexpresstohimweresaid.

Thedownstairshallwaywasemptythenextmorning,andIcouldtellthatmyparentshadleftforworknot longago.Still,Ienteredthekitchentofindafreshlytoastedbagelonthecounterandawarmcontainerof lasagnapackedforlunch.WithoutwordsorabowlofCheerios,IfeltthecomfortIhadchasedforyears existinginthequietlovethathadneverrunfromme.

NDCrosswordPuzzle-EllaBidez‘26