Tuesday night was a fun one at Mascoutah High School! I got double the action and three kids to cheer on all in one night. Ania celebrated her senior night for volleyball, while Teagan and Emmet went head-to-head on the soccer field. I wouldn’t have missed it!

And a bonus? I got to sit with Taylor, one of my CEO students from last year, who came to cheer on Ania and her team, too! I love seeing those connections continue and watching our kids show up for each other even after their CEO year is over.

I didn’t get home until around 10:00, and on the drive home I found myself thinking about what our students do every single day.

They’re at CEO by 6:45 AM and with me until 8:30. Then it’s off to their respective high schools for a full day of classes. Add in sports, band, other activities, jobs (yes, most of them work!), homework, studying, college applications, church events, and somewhere in there, they’re supposed to actually get a little sleep.

Then that alarm goes off again around 5:00 AM, and they do it all over again.

And they show up. They put themselves out there. They try new things, take on responsibilities, and keep going even when they’re tired. I get to see that side of them up close, and I’m telling y’all, it makes me proud.

I’m so blessed to be a small part of their journey, and I love getting to cheer them on outside of CEO, too. These kids have a whole lot going on, and they’re handling more than we sometimes give them credit for.

Ever wonder how they do it all? I do! And I’m so proud of the way they show up, work hard, and make the most of every opportunity. They’re pretty amazing, y’all!