Making Senior memories

As I photographed another Senior Night, capturing memories that these Seniors and their families will look back on fondly I realized I too am making memories during these Senior Nights. I used to think about how I missed out on all my high school memories, having had to quit school after the ninth grade, but now I realize I am creating memories and living many things I missed out through the lens of my camera.

I have been through so many experiences side by side with these Olney youth these past six years, yes, mostly from the sidelines but nonetheless, I feel a part of their journey, sometimes happy and sometimes sad, but it is these memories that make us look back fondly on Olney as the home we love so much, filled with friends, neighbors, family and the youth of the school programs.

I am reaching a time now where I am seeing some students I have been photographing and supporting since elementary school enter college and graduate, and it always makes me so proud to see these student-athletes graduate and follow their dreams. My favorite moments in Olney are mostly centered around the students, community, and church but the ones including the students have been the fondest.

Heading out of basketball season into baseball and softball means the year will quickly slip away into graduation and another summer. I am ready to enjoy the here and now though, and look forward to another season of following the success and shortfalls of these Olney student-athletes as they strive to make their hard work pay off in softball, baseball, track, and UIL scholar competitions.

Some may see the loss of a competition as a negative thing but if these students learn from the loss - such things as good sportsmanship, to work harder to achieve those wins and know that a loss is not the end but only the beginning to the road to success – then a loss can be a positive thing.

Back to my Senior Memories, I believe what makes the memories more special is the overcoming of obstacles by these students and their perseverance.

These make the memories that much more emotional and connected to our hearts. I have so many wonderful memories already.

One I will always remember is Jae Montgomery who always played with her heart on her sleeve. During some emotionally charged games, she would exit the course during a loss with tears and I felt such pride knowing she put so much into the game and her teammates and did not want to let down family, friends, and the community. There are a thousand little moments in time, if not more, that make up my memories of this little community. Another of my favorite memories of the community occurred during COVID-19, when everyone took care of each other, making sure everyone would be okay or have things they needed if they could not go out.

Olney is a magical place that does not exist in most of America these days. Let’s count our blessings and keep making these beautiful memories.

This is Will B saying, there is no place like home and that home is Olney.