Thank you Danny, for inspiring me always.

Daniel Francis Mulvey,

October 2nd, 2017 has quite possibly been one of the worst days of my life if not THE worst day of my life. Receiving that phone call and hearing that you were gone must have been the hardest words that I have ever had to listen to in my entire existence. Daniel Francis Mulvey, you were the embodiment of every reason why I desire to teach. Just as you did for me and the world around you, I wish to inspire others to better themselves. I want to encourage my students to be self aware and know that it is okay to not be okay. I want my students to know that they have me, just as I had you as a shoulder to cry on. I want them to understand that I will forever be a helping hand, and a hand to hold through the toughest of situations, just as you were for me throughout my lifetime.

All of these traits that you taught me, are things that I will forever carry with me. I will forever hear your voice in my head telling me to "just keep swimming". I will forever have you to pray to in this world when all else hurts and fails because I know that you are up there listening and loving me with every ounce in you. I know that you are cheering me on from the sidelines, and you will someday be sitting in my future classroom just inspiring me to be the best possible educator that I can be. I know that you are doing this all, because you are my guardian angel. 

Yes, losing you hurts. Yes, not having my best friend to walk me in my way through life kills me each and everyday. Yes, I wish I had your hand to hold in this world instead of a pendant around my neck with a locket holding your picture in it closest to my heart. Yes, I wish all of these things to be true, but I know that you have not left me. You have only left us physically. 

You empower me. You inspire me. You brighten my darkest days. You want me to "just keep swimming". You want me to make Dean's list again. You want me to continue on in my pursuit of being inducted into KDP because I remember the smile on your face when I told you about it. You want the best for me. You want me to smile for you. You want my students to love me in every way and you want me to be the best educator that I could possibly be. You want me to continue on pushing in this world, even though it's without you. And no matter how hard it has been and will continue to be without you here with me,

I will for you.