Mary has expressed interest in potentially changing jobs so for her birthday, I have curated a list of adjectives for her to use during the interview process when she is asked to describe herself. (My qualifications are that I have known Mary since I was 15 years old. She is my oldest friend).

Patient

Mary does not rush people. She lets them arrive when they are ready and willing and able. She holds their hands the entire way and never once ceases believing in them. 

Example: She taught Kaitlyn and I the rules of football (something no man has ever successfully accomplished).

Proactive

Mary makes things happen, for her students and her friends and herself. There’s nothing out of reach for her. She knows exactly what she wants and she’s willing to work hard and plan meticulously to ensure she gets it. Mary does not settle for unfulfilled dreams.

Example: Literally just ask her about her next trip. I promise you there is one.

Loyal

Mary understands that at the foundation of any long term relationship is unwavering acceptance. She does not hold who you were over who you want to become or vice versa. She celebrates every version of yourself as they emerge, even when you fall short of who you thought you’d be. She never fails to greet each version like a familiar friend.

Example: She is a diehard Colts fan still even though they have had six different quarterbacks starting Week 1 over the last six seasons.

Proud

Mary is proud. She is proud of her playlists and her classroom activities and her sneaker collection. She is proud of Michigan football as well as her hatred of Ohio State. She is proud of her car and her career and her friends. Most importantly Mary is proud of herself. And it’s not the proudness derived from arrogance or self importance. It’s the deep fulfillment and satisfaction of fully recognizing the abundance of love and passion and effort she pours into herself and her life. She does not waver in who she is and by doing so grants everyone else permission to be more themselves.

Example: She sends out daily snapchats for streaks documenting and celebrating every big and small victory (and even failure). She shares what matters to her with the people who matter most to her. She lets herself be known and loved. (The latter is effortless)

Optimistic

Mary is the ultimate optimist. Not in a naive, rose-colored glasses philosophical way, but in the steadfast way one is required to first believe in something or someone before they can extract their potential into fruition. Mary is unafraid to search out potential where no one else can find it and she is tenacious enough to nurture it into something undeniable and definitive. She constantly cultivates excitement for the future. And then she tirelessly prepares you for said future while simultaneously preparing the future for you. 

Example: She first became my friend at the age of 15 after I had dropped out of high school for being hospitalized with an eating disorder. 7 years later we stood side by side as our mom’s handed us our college diplomas at our joint backyard graduation party with all our friends. If you had asked me at 15 if I thought any of that was possible for me, I would’ve said no, but Mary would’ve said yes.

Happy birthday, my dearest Mary Michere! When I say it’s your world and we’re just living in it, what I actually mean is that you’ve created this world for me filled with so much confidence and hope and football lol and I’m so grateful to still be a part of it with you after all these years. I will forever think you have the luckiest students in the entire world rivaled only by your friends. I love you I love you I love you.