My Hero.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

~Audrey Hepburn

Karen gave me this quote shortly after Chelsea's funeral. It hung on the mirror in her bedroom and now hangs on my mirror. Every time I read this I am reminded of Chelsea. Not only because it was something she read everyday but because it is everything that Chelsea was. She truly lived her life by this quote. Chelsea was always looking out for others and never thought of herself. It didn't matter to Chelsea how people looked on the outside, it was what was on the inside that mattered.

Chelsea was my family's babysitter when my parents went out of town. Although I was very young when she stayed at our house, I remember her perfectly. I remember her taking me to shop-n-go to get frozen yogurt. Irish mint and chocolate were her favorite. I remember her letting my sisters and I stay up late to hang out with her and all of her friends. I remember dancing around the kitchen while making brownies. My memories of her aren't very clear and I don't have too many but my memory of Chelsea and who she was is perfect. She had such an impact on my life even though I was only 6 or 7 year old at the time.

Chelsea had a light that was contagious. When you were around her you couldn't help but smile. I always felt like the most important person in the world when she talked to me. She had friends from all walks of life and was always expanding her social circle. Chelsea was who I strived to be like when I was younger, I wanted to grow up to be just like her. She was my greatest role model and still is. I have grown up with the influence of Chelsea in my life, I miss her all of the time. I hope that I have become and continue to be a person that Chelsea would be proud of.

Carli Schneider