Forever True to You, Dear Old White & Blue

Last weekend marked the end of a summer of galavanting and travels. On our drive back to Michigan, we decided to spend the night in State College, which set us up for a longer run on campus Monday morning - the first day of classes! In addition to being the first "first day" I've been on campus for since 2007, it was the first time I have really been on campus on an normal day of classes at all. Throwww backkkk!

The entire run was nostalgic and gave me a lot to think about. The Penn State community has had a challenging year as we strive to remain focused on the things that matter most to us and work hard to prove that we are not defined by the actions of a few people. The extended alumni community is made up of thousands of people who are excelling at what they do and making a positive impact in their fields. Over the past ten months, a cloud of tragedy and pain has allowed outsiders to make blanket statements about a place nearly half a million people call home. When I think about the people who I associate with when I think of Penn State and the way they carry themselves, I know these generalizations are just that. What transpired there this past year, or rather decade+, is disgusting, disturbing, and hard to even accept as truth. I cannot let it define who we are, because they are the actions of a few people, not the majority.

During the run, I watched students walk to class - leaving East Halls for their first college class ever, waiting to take the blue loop across from SBS, walking across Old Main's lawn, stopping in McLanahan's for a breakfast sandwich - and I thought about the four years I spent living in State College, ultimately becoming the person I am today. My time there provided me with the foundation I use every day in my classroom as a teacher and it gave me leadership experience to take initiative in my school and community. As we ran past both Rec Hall and the BJC, I thought about the four THONs I attended - the countless hours spent on our feet dancing, canning, cheering, supporting, all in the name of finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Running along Curtain Road, I thought about the opportunities I've had to come back as an alumni and combine two of my greatest passions - running and the Four Diamonds Fund. Running through the new Arboretum, I was reminded that no matter how much you love a place and think you know it, there's always something new to see or learn about it. With every step that I took, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have met the people I did during my time there - people I don't need to even be reminded of. When I left State College in 2008, I left with some of my greatest friends and of course, the love of my life. 

Especially this summer, when I have been lucky enough to return to so many of my favorite places, I'm reminded that as we move through our lives, we leave a piece of our heart in all the places that matter most to us. Rather than feel empty without those pieces, we benefit from feeling connected to them when we return. Little pieces of my heart are sprinkled all throughout University Park and State College - Brumbaugh Hall, Chambers Building, the HUB, the Waffle Shop, the Cafe, Mad Mex, - and when I am fortunate enough to return, the memories of those places and the people I shared them with always come back to me....and as always, you can cover a lot more ground when you're running.