Hey foto! I cannot believe it is already just 18 days until THON and hope you guys are getting hype! My name is Tanner, aka Gertie and Maloy’s sister, I graduated just last year and held many different positions in FOTO over my 4 years. I started as a liaison my freshman year, was Comm my sophomore year, alt funds with madame pres herself junior year, and finally alumni chair my senior year. I also had the honor of dancing my junior year with some of the most amazing people (DRCMs included helloooo reece and Morgan) including my best friend and now roommate Cam #fotoisfamily. That all being said, I absolutely love FOTO through every lens I could possibly look at it through and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous of all of you sitting in those seats right now.
I joined FOTO my freshman year upon recommendation of my brother Cade, quickly met some of my my best friends, and realized my passion and purpose for the organization and cause. My four years in foto were nothing short of amazing, whether it was going to monday meetings, singing at bake sale Fridays, running around at family visits, walking/driving to random restaurant fundraisers, complaining about not being able to use venmo, or crying about my feet hurting at hour 40 of THON; I could not be more grateful for each minute I spent involved. Notable memories include spending 16 hours making fatheads in the dorm lobby with a hot glue gun and a dream, rotisserie chicken surprise, trekking to Monte Carlo after any and every social, wrecking crew games in -10 degree weather, fearing for my life on our way to the Eslinger household, foto dunkin, and, of course, smella (pictured below). Honorable mention goes to any and every PTAP and the chamoy pickle.
As an alumni I now have an even bigger appreciation for all that Penn State students are able to achieve through THON. I am a nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on the oncology unit, and I can tell you first hand that the fundraising and effort that Penn State puts into THON is life changing. The research, emotional support, and network of families THON brings together is unlike anything I have ever seen. It extends beyond Hershey and State College and truly has a far and wide reaching impact on families impacted by childhood cancer everywhere. Never forget the power you have as a member of foto, the little things you do add up and make a difference!
Now that you are so close to the finish line, it’s time to lock in. Send out those texts to random family members asking for money, go to leadership committee meetings, sign up for entrance plan, and go mormon for a week or so. As for the weekend, shove snacks in your extra socks, bring a lot of deodorant and Advil, and be ready to talk and bond with people you never expected to! This is a one of a kind weekend - it will challenge, inspire, and change you; stay in the moment and don’t take it for granted! Super proud of all of you and so excited to see everything you accomplished this year, FTK!
