rest in peace daddy. your last words to me were, "i love you" & my last words were, "i love you too." you were the best man that i have ever & will ever know. you are so strong & lived such an amazing, full, beautiful life. you gave my mom, brother, & i all of the love in the world. i am so proud to be your daughter & so blessed to have been able to call you dad. i don't want to know what the world is like without you in it, but i know you will always be with me in my heart. i know that every day you will follow me & look over me & protect me, & i will carry you in my heart everywhere i go. i will continue to live and be successful in your honor. everything i do will be for you. you were so loved by everyone who had the opportunity to meet you, & even those who didn't. you made friends everywhere we went together, to the point where mom & i would put our heads down & sigh as you told our waitress your life story because their name reminded you of something, but everyone loved it. as i write this, i can only think about how we would be laughing about something stupid you would say, "i see, says the blind man." you always had the funniest (yet dumbest) dad jokes that i've ever heard & unfortunately (for my friends who have to suffer hearing my jokes) you passed that humor down to me. we would belly laugh at the smallest things. iʻve been sleeping on your side of the bed you shared with mom since you passed. i havenʻt let texas bear out of my sight, he still smells like you. i can't believe i will never feel your hug again, or see your smile, or hear you laugh. i keep listening to a voice message you left me a year ago telling me you love me. thank you for all of the adventures, tears, laughs, & experiences you've given me. you are always going to be my favorite person. you are in a better place now, & you're reunited with bita, your parents, aunt susie & aunt prissy, uncle bevo, & you get to meet mom's dad. i know you are going to have an amazing time with them. i love you forever & i cannot express the way i miss you so much. 💙💙
may 17, 1948 - may 1, 2023
my love letter to @virginia.tech 💌
thank you for the best 3.5 years.
it's a surreal feeling, to know i have a purpose, to know all of my hard work is turning my dreams into reality.
i’ve done so many things during my time here. i’ve had incredible opportunities, counted countless blessings, and experienced once-in-a-lifetime moments. i found passions in photography & journalism, two things i never really considered before college. now they’re a core part of who i am.
thanks to @commvt , i learned so much about journalism and fell in love with a field i had never even considered before. now i’m pursuing a new dream… just you wait. big things are coming. i was also able to join @collegiatetimes , which gave me the chance to step into a newsroom and grow into the journalist i want to become.
alongside @vtsoulstice i was able to be a part of six incredible concerts & two albums. soulstice will always be a part of my heart wherever life takes me. music has always been an escape for me - thank you for giving me the space to create with you. soulfam forever!
with @chambersingersvt i performed in carnegie hall. are you kidding me?!
to everyone i met during my time here, you all shaped me to be the person i am today. whether you're still in my life or not, i am grateful for every lesson & story you gave me.
dad, this is for you. when i walk across that stage, know that i did it for you. i know you're looking down at me, beaming with pride.
mom, thank you. i couldn't have done this without you. i felt so alone, out of place, but you supported me through it all. you encouraged me to make a new path. you encouraged me to follow my heart. you encouraged me to keep going through all the hard times. this degree is as much mine as it is yours.
virginia tech, you will always be home. lets go hokies!! ❤️🧡
#hokiegrad
