Helllllloooo FOTO Family,
I’ll do my best to keep this short, mainly because I’m currently writing this on a shaky train on my way back from Ashburn, Va (shoutout Jake Jurich). I want to start off by wishing a warm welcome to all the new FOTO members who joined this year. I’ve met a lot of you already, and I’m extremely impressed by the work and dedication I’ve seen thus far. For those who don’t know me, my name is Jake and you’ve probably seen my massive head at the back of EVERY picture taken with FOTO in the past few years. I had four amazing years with FOTO, and I also had the honor of being one of the Family Relations Officers last year.
Joining FOTO was a great decision, but becoming involved in FOTO was the best decision I’ve made in my life. This organization has taught me so much. Here’s a list of just a few lessons I’ve learned over the past years:
- Do not get in a Nerf battle with Logan and Lucas, you will inevitably lose, they are small and agile like spider monkeys
- A small fort made from few couch cushions and a blanket might not seem like much to us, but they look like a castle to Matty, Finny, and William….and Ford
- If you intercept a football pass specifically meant for Megan, you will look like the devil
- Do not leave a full tray of cupcakes on the counter at a family visit while dogs are present
- Some college students and a couple of THON families can sure have a lot of fun in a church gymnasium with deflated basketballs
- If you’re canning and you’re approached by a small child wearing a Batman outfit while you are also wearing a Batman outfit, you just might cry
- Do not leave a can of donations on top of your car, you might just drive away with it leading to a loss of money, a dented can, and a bruised ego
- A small group of young college kids can make a true impact in childrens’ lives
If I can leave all of you with some advice, it would be to make the same decision I made four years ago. Become involved and get the opportunity to meet the board, our general members, and three of the most extraordinary families on this planet. The families are truly the heart of this organization, and my best FOTO memories have ultimately culminated through experiences with them. I love and miss you all, and I can’t wait to see / meet all of you when I visit this upcoming week.
Cheers,
Jake
