~:[Spotlight]:~ Grace Kuo

~:[Spotlight]:~ Grace Kuo

I always try to match up these spotlights with important events and while I missed doing this on her graduation, I decided, it would be great to do this on her return to Southern California! I met Grace her freshman year when I was a junior. It's always hard to remember that far back, but while I have a horrid short-term memory, my long-term memory is quite vivid. Being someone going into neurology, I'm sure she can diagnose me. 

She has always been a studious one, being a product of Whitney and all. While hanging out in high school, I remember that I accidentally went south instead of north on the freeway. In order to turn around, I got off at what I thought was an exit, but it was a weight station and I hit a speed bump at sixth. It felt like one of those car chases and Grace was in the passenger seat taking her Chemistry practice test, just before she screamed at me. That was one day short of sixteen years ago and it's amazing that we still keep in contact. Grace stuck it out through the toughest of times and was always there for me and the team when we needed her the most and it was through that stretch that I grew to appreciate her the most. 

She has become legendary within our program as a few of the runners that ran under her, talk about how tough she was on them. She helped build a team of female athletes who were tougher than our boys, as they were all a product of a coach who was one of the toughest people I have always met. I think they became tough because they feared her, but they grew a lot because of  her. (I may just have to institute some Gracesonian coaching tactics next year.) However, behind the tough facade, is a caring individual who gives 110% and then some, making sure that the people around her are taken care of. 

Sure she may buy too many things every once in awhile, but all in all, I cherish all the wonderful moments that we have shared, the places we have explored, and all the delicious food we have consumed. While I know you're going to hate me for posting this picture, I hope that you know how much I have appreciated having you in my life and am so glad that you'll be back in the area so we can all go on fooding and other adventures.

Congratulations on your graduation and also on finally finishing all of your packing so that you could return home. See you very soon!

*****

The spotlight is a column that will highlight at least one person every week who deserves all the gratitude in the world for what they do. While the individual may never make the headline news, they are the type of person that deserve their moment in the spotlight.