Dear Heff,
I been counting down the days where I can tell you this stuff in person and I know everyone else wants to as well, but Corona has gotten in the way of us hanging with eachother, so I guess I gotta write to you now.
We’re proud of you. Genuinely. And I swear I’m not playing with you. The amount of maturity you’ve shown from the end of senior year to now is sometimes scary to me. You’re a completely different person in that way. I know how hard it probably was to get out of Kansas and realize it wasn’t a good place for you, but I know plenty of other people that wouldn’t have had the balls to do what you did. What you’re doing now at Dutchess and soon to be at Baruch is completely right for you, and that is all that matters.
I’m really glad you were able to come up with Kirby and come visit Tom and I at Delaware, but I’m most glad that we got to have some deep conversation the first night together. I’m sorry you never got to open up about your Dad and his cancer really, or to talk about pressure you felt from everybody for leaving school, or why you acted up in high school the way that you did. You truly are the Dennis Rodman of North Salem, misunderstood in every way possible. No matter how people look at you, I along with all the boys will always know the real you. You’re the funniest person I will ever meet, you always speak the truth, and you would do anything for any one of us, and I hope you know we would do the same for you. I’m so pumped for the new apartment in Philly and all the new stuff going on in your life, and I can’t wait to pump out some more pyramid schemes with you.
All love,
Stacks
English 110 Spring 2020 10:10-11:00 
I really like this post because I feel like all too often we forget to congratulate our friends for maturing and be proud of them for all that they are. We are so concerned with ourselves and our own issues, I think we often overlook the trials others are facing simultaneously. A line that stuck out to me was “You truly are the Dennis Rodman of North Salem, misunderstood in every way possible.” I don’t know much about Dennis Rodman (sorry I don’t follow much basketball) but I love how you said “misunderstood in every way possible.” Honestly, I feel like that’s all of us until someone gets to know us. This blog also emphasizes the fact that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, and that the true beauty of someone is found only by looking deeper, which I truly appreciate. I love how understanding and kind this letter was; it made me think about some of the things I should probably tell my friends that I haven’t yet. I loved reading this post, great work! I hope you’re staying safe and healthy!
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This was a really nice post to read because a lot of times, I think we forget how important validation from a friend can be. You really not only considered your own feelings while writing this but you friends feelings as well. This is such a kind, reassuring letter with so much thought and consideration put into it. I also really liked how you acknowledged your friends growth over the years. For some people, they don’t like having friends that are changing but you seem really supportive of all of his decisions and growth. Overall, this was a really sweet letter to read and it reminded me how important it is to support and validate my own friends. Stay safe!
-Tess Williams
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I could tell you were speaking from your heart here, and it was really touching to read. I have to agree with Tess; knowing that the people close to you not only support your decisions but admire you for making them can really build a person’s confidence to make the right choices for them, wherever that may take them in life. You seem to have a deep personal connection which is especially important since you refer to him as “misunderstood in every way”, a line that stuck out to me because it reminded me of Catcher in the Rye. By the way, I blanked on the name of that book for a solid 30 minutes and nobody knew what I was talking about so I asked my high school english teacher. I don’t know why it meant that much to me but regardless, there is no better feeling than having a friend that understands you. I hope that you get to share this with him soon, I’m sure it would make his day.
– Ellie Pellecchia
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