Rose, Bud, and Thorn
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” - Robert H. Schuller, Speaker and Author
The chaotic year of 2020 has come to an end, and we have the new year ahead. During the craziness of 2020, we have experienced the good and the bad. We can look forward to the new year because every new year comes with a new beginning or fresh start.
We can take this time to reflect on how we have grown, gain wisdom from our experiences, appreciate the simple things in life, and look forward to new adventures in 2021. What better way to express this through an activity called rose, bud, and thorn.
The rose explains the positive that has happened in 2020, and the thorn describes the negative of 2020. The bud shows what we look forward to in 2021. Here, we can dive into the insights the members of NAI have encountered.
Mr. Lamm
Rose: The reminder of what should be most important in our lives and the revelation that too often that which was negative or stressful was not nearly as important as we thought. Bud: Living life and taking time to sincerely enjoy what I'd taken for granted far too often for far too long. Thorn: Time away from friends and family, and the guilt that came from realizing that too often priorities wer...
9th Grade Student
Rose: I have picked up many new skills like knitting, sewing, and cooking! I also polished up my painting skills. I even started selling clothes and commissions. Bud: I am looking forward to interning with my mom over the summer doing interior design, starting to make my own clothes, and trying to make sculptures. Thorn: My grandpa, who lives with me, was diagnosed with cancer. So, I haven’t bee...
Kathryn Karl
Rose: I got married! We were able to have our wedding (mostly) as planned. It was almost canceled multiple times but it wasn't and everything was absolutely perfect! Bud: I will be the Matron of Honor in two of my best friends weddings in 2021. Thorn: COVID-19, I miss seeing my family who lives all over the country. Many of my family members were unable to attend my wedding. At least they wer...
Mrs. Colleen Burg
Rose: My niece, Charlotte, was born healthy and happy on September 18, 2020. No matter how dark the situation, the sun will always shine after, and she is most definitely the sunshine after the darkness of a Covid-19 year. There is nothing like a baby to remind the world that life always goes on. Bud: I'm hoping that my elderly parents will receive the vaccine soon. All I really want to do is hu...
Jennifer Schulte
Rose: Those closest to me stayed healthy and safe during the 2020 year! Bud: I am looking forward to moments of laughter as we progress through this year. Maybe something new and exciting will occur - fingers crossed! Thorn: Not getting to see my friends, family, students, and colleagues became my thorn of 2020. It broke my heart that I couldn't spend time with my family out of state. Howeve...
Caitlin Ewing
Rose: I always say that I have 1400 + kids in my NAI Family, but my husband and I made an exciting decision to pursue adoption to grow our personal family. We are anxious about the steps to follow, but confident in the process and know that "Baby Ewing" is out there waiting for us...and they will be a Tiger for life! Bud: I am looking forward to learning from 2020, prioritizing the important thin...
Aditi Vaidya
Rose: I got some time to remodel my room. Bud: Tournaments reopening and traveling. Thorn: Shutting down my gym and club.
Avery Neely
Rose: Getting to be with my friends before lockdowns, becoming close with my best friends, watching my niece grow up. Bud: Hopefully there will be some sort of normalcy, and people will start to take the pandemic seriously. Thorn: Watching people still go out, party, and be reckless while I’ve not hung out with my friends inside since March of 2020....
Miss Grecco
Rose: Becoming close with my family; with my brother being sent home from college and my dad being sent home from work at the start of the pandemic, 2020 allowed for us to be together as a family for longer than two months at a time for the first time in a while. We watched family movies and brought back the family game night, it was a lot of fun! Bud: Getting a chance to travel again; when I get...
10th Grade Student
Rose: My favorite part of 2020 was being able to learn about myself. Since I had so much time, I found new hobbies and decided who my true friends are. Bud: I’m looking forward to getting my driver’s license so I can be more independent. Thorn: My least favorite part of 2020 was having to do school from home. It wasn’t easy for me at first, and it took a lot of time to adjust....
9th Grade Student
Rose: Improving my physical health. Bud: I have hope for the vaccine. Thorn: Not being able to see extended family.
Dana Pitell
Rose: My family and I got a lake house before the lockdown. The lake house has been my escape place through this hectic time. I love doing activities there such as water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, etc. with my family. Volunteering has also helped me get through this pandemic too. Bud: I can't wait to travel again and for summer to be here. I hope everything works out with the vaccine, so we can go...
Avery Butcher
Rose: My rose was getting to spend quality time with my family. Bud: My bud is being able to go back to school and see friends. Thorn: My thorn was not being able to play volleyball.
Dr. Morrow
Rose: Togetherness! I enjoyed being able to spend time enjoying time with my husband, Kyle, and my 3-year-old daughters, Adelaide and Hazel. Working from home meant less time commuting for my husband and more time to enjoy the silliness of 3-year-olds. It's not often that you get so much time to just BE - so I did not take that for granted! Bud: Like most people, I am hopeful that normal c...
Brendan White
Rose: My rose for 2020 was the chance to have more free time and explore some activities and hobbies that I would not have without the pandemic. This allowed me to learn more about myself, how I work, and what I like. Bud: I'm looking forward to what I am going to be able to learn from my School Board Representative position and my Fellowship with the World Affairs Council. I am so excited to s...
9th Grade Student
Rose: I got to compete in my first gymnastic meets. Bud: I’m looking forward to the summer of 2021. Thorn: Our school shutting down, and I had to finish off my last middle school year without seeing my friends and do school by myself.
9th Grade Student
Rose: Going on vacation with my best friend. Bud: Summer because I had a great summer in 2020. Thorn: The lockdown March-May because I had lots of anxiety and couldn’t see anyone.
Melanie Lynch
Rose: Learning a lot more technology. Bud: I can not wait to travel again. Thorn: Being isolated in my house alone for so long.
9th Grade English Teacher
Rose: It has been good spending quality time with immediate family. Bud: I'm looking forward to items getting somewhat back to normal later in the year, so hopefully we can meet with friends or go out to a restaurant. Thorn: I miss socializing with my friends.
10th Grade Student
Rose: It was very nice being able to reflect on myself and my life with the time that we had to spend at home. It gave me a chance to think about my future and what I want to be doing. Bud: I’m looking forward to COVID-19 hopefully coming to a close, and being able to surround myself with people once again. Thorn: Being isolated from my friends, family, and people in general was very diffic...
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