Each One

There is not a day that passes by that I do not think about Chelsea. I have so many happy memories with her. The older I get the more I realize how far beyond her years she was. Chelsea had it figured out and her example has reached far beyond her lifetime. I am a better person because she was my friend. She brought out the best in me, and everyone she was around. She lifted everyone up and certainly knew how to make you feel special inside.

She taught me this lesson when we were Senior Class officers together at Highland High School. In preparation for Senior Week, Chelsea, Peter Theurer and I wanted to create a video to show at the assembly highlighting the great senior class of 1999. As we were trying to figure out what skit or funny dialogue to include in our video that we thought would bring laughs and entertainment to the student body, Chelsea was adamant about including a slide show with a picture of every person in our senior class. She did not want the show to be about us, she wanted each individual to have a moment to shine, she wanted each person to be included. So that is what we did. We searched through all the pictures we had, pulled some from the yearbook, even took some ourselves of those friends we were missing, until every single individual in our senior class was included and accounted for.

Once our video was complete and we sat back and watched the final product at the assembly, I realized the meaning behind Chelsea’s vision. She wanted to create a moment for each individual to feel like they were the most important person, like they mattered and they were special in front of the whole school. And she did. I remember watching the faces of my fellow classmates when a picture of them was flashed on the big screen. They laughed and they smiled. The feeling I felt inside was so much better than any video we could have made starring the three of us, and only the three of us as class officers. Chelsea wanted to recognize each of them, and let them know that whoever they were, they had value and they were important.

This is the way Chelsea lived her life, every day. And every day I miss her and feel grateful for the time that I had to spend with her. She was the kind of person I want to be.

I love you Chels.

Whitney Johnson Kirkham