The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Halee Wood of Carthage, Illini West Senior Class of 2021
As much as I'd like to think that 2020 ruined so much for me, I look back now, and realize how much this year has truly taught me. 2020, the year everyone is so excited to say "See ya later" too. This year was full of nothing but crazy times, fun adventures, many tears, but some freaking awesome life realizations that would've never happened in a normal year.
This year started off doing all the normal things-hanging out with friends, going to school, spending endless hours in the gym, going to school dances-"normal" things, right?
Then, this crazy thing called COVID- 19 came along, and "ruined" everything. The whole state gets shut down. No hanging out with friends, no going to school, no sports (like no practice, no games, no seeing your teammates, no seeing coaches), cleaning everything you touch, wearing a mask every time you step foot out of the house. Nothing like what you would expect for the last couple months of your junior year, and at the rate we're going, your whole senior year.
So many lasts, we don't get to experience. The best years of our lives getting taken away. Nothing has seemed fair at all. I struggled, BIG TIME, at the beginning. My mental health was progressively going down hill. I couldn't understand what I was supposed to be doing with life when I didn't have practices/games daily.
I turned to God, because that's what you do in the hardest times of your life, and this time for me was extremely hard. I realized this was all happening for a reason, and clearly He had a plan for me throughout all the craziness.
Looking back on the year I have had, I realize how unbelievably blessed I am.
This year has taught me more than I ever thought I'd know at age 18. I got a job - that would've never happened with all the sports and activities I was involved in. Cortney, has taught me so freaking much, beyond just work. Life lessons that I can hold on to, forever. A friendship, that I will forever have.
I grew in my relationship with the lord - I made time for myself with God. I made time to pray. I made time to read scripture.
I spent time with family - time with family is everything to me. We went on trips we never could've done because of all the activities our family is typically involved in. We did so much together, and built out relationships to be bigger and better together.
So much GOOD happened this year that canceled out all the "bad." A blessing in disguise.
This year has been nothing short of that. I'm thankful for getting the opportunity to - G R O W - in so many different aspects of my life this year. Don't get me wrong, it was not the picture perfect year I had hoped for. But it was a year of lessons + growth.
Thanks for that 2020, now lets see what 2021 has for me.
Happy New Year, y'all !!
XOXO, Halee.
Halee is the daughter of Steve and Heather Rodeffer Wood of Carthage.
Enjoying time with her siblings from left: Hattie, Halee, Hannah and Hayden. Also, Halee and Hannah were baptized at their church this year, and later they were able to help their dad baptize their sister Halee.They attend The Crossing in Macomb, a church focused on Jesus and spreading the gospel.
Halee-22 with her IW Regional championship team in February 2020. She also played softball and volleyball.