Hi friends,
It was the start of 11th grade, and I didn’t want to be there. My sisters and brother had always excelled in school, but for me—especially after brain surgery and a stroke—school was difficult for me. I came back to school in a wheelchair, struggling to write with my left hand, struggling to speak, and feeling more uncomfortable than I ever had before.
And that’s where I met someone who changed everything about testing, learning, and believing in myself: Holly Camorata.
Holly was the testing coordinator at my high school, in charge of the SAT and ACT. She had dark-blue eyes, shoulder-length blonde hair, and a smile that quietly said, You can do this, and I’ll help you every step of the way.
Weekend after weekend, Holly sat beside me in silent classrooms, reading test questions aloud, waiting patiently as I worked through each one. She filled in the bubbles for me when my hand couldn’t, encouraged me when I got frustrated, and never once treated me like I was less than anyone else.
Her kindness changed my life. She didn’t just help me pass a test—she helped me believe I could go to college, find a career, and live a full life again. That belief still fuels me today every time I step on a stage or a snowboard.
Main Value Piece (Reflection)
Kindness doesn’t always look dramatic.
Sometimes it looks like showing up quietly for someone who’s struggling, sitting beside them in their silence, or reminding them they’re capable when they’ve forgotten how to believe it.
Holly’s kindness was patient, practical, and consistent—the kind that becomes part of someone’s foundation long after the moment has passed.
In healthcare, in education, and in life, we may never see how far our kindness travels. But the truth is, it never stops moving.
Takeaway / Challenge
This week, think of someone who believed in you when you didn’t believe in yourself.
Then, find one way to pass that same belief on—to a student, a patient, a colleague, or even a stranger.
One quiet act of kindness can change the direction of someone’s life.
Resource / Link
🎧 Song: “A Lot More Free” by Max McNown
A reminder that pain can lead to perspective—and that gratitude and kindness often grow from our hardest moments.
With gratitude,
Kelsey
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