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Spotlight: Sarah Hoff




My 14 year old daughter just started high school a few days ago.  Yeah....just let that sit for a minute.  HIGH SCHOOL!

This is just crazy to think about for this dad.  I vividly recall Sarah's first day of school when she was going to start first grade.  This little girl wanted to wear a dress because she INSISTED that nobody wear slacks on their first day of school.  Sarah has always been an old soul.  So, Paula and I watched her little body climb those steps of the bus and she waved as the bus pulled away.  I followed her to school and walked her to her first grade class.  There, I met Sheila Sanders, Sarah's first grade teacher.  I set Sarah's bags that contained her school supplies down next to her chair.  I gave her a hug and said I would see her later that night.  Sarah cried, and begged me not to leave.  As I held her for a moment, I reassured her that she was going to be fine.  I waved as I walked out of her class and stood just around the corner, where I could see her, but she couldn't see me.  I peered in, and Sarah was at work, getting her supplies out and getting on with her day.  No tears....on either end.


Flash forward to now:  the girl is now a Freshmen at West Carrollton Senior High and boy, have things changed for Sarah over the years.  She is a bright, articulate, young lady who had really developed a wonderful sense of self.  Here is a list of some of her achievements:  a member of the National Junior Honor Society, she has been named Outstanding Chorus member twice.  She is a third year member of the ERA (Education Recognition Association) in West Carrollton.  Sarah has been active in her school choir and a member of the First Impressions, the junior high show choir.  She is also a stage veteran of several musicals at our church, and a member of the church praise teams.



What has impressed me most is that Sarah is self taught on guitar.  She wanted to play a few years ago,and after some private lessons, she kinda of lost interest.  After she started watching reruns of The Monkees on TV, she picked up her guitar and started studying tutorials online.  Just last week, Sarah performed in her first live event on Facebook.

It was so rewarding to see Sarah carve out a life for herself, and to really succeed.  More than that, she is a warm, loving young lady who is eager to help others with school work.  Anytime Paula and I went to her Parent/Teacher conferences, all her teachers heap on the praise for her,  One teacher even said to us :"I wish a had a classroom full of Sarahs."  If that doesn't make a parent beam with pride, nothing will.



Sarah is trying to make her own mark in this life.  She has mentioned recently that she feels that she is known only as Brian Hoff's kid.  For whatever reason, that moniker is haunting her.  It's not necessarily a bad thing, but someone who lived with his own labels all his life, I get it.  I love her determination and a strong will.  Sometimes that strong will is nothing but stubborn attitude.  I have to admit:  she does get it honest.



I am so stinking proud of Sarah and I have no doubt in my mind that she is going to ind success whatever she does.  Paula and I will be cheering her every step of the way!

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