The week before winter break was a little crazy for everyone around here. My advisees were busily finishing assignments, rehearsing for the big concert, traveling for soccer games and of course packing for the three week hiatus, among about a million other things. In the admission office we were full steam ahead too – not just with a jam-packed interview schedule, but with two annual off campus events. Within the span of a few days my colleagues and I traveled both to LA and San Francisco with teams of current Thacher kids to “wave the flag” so to speak and introduce Thacher to families who might not have visited yet, or who wanted the chance to learn a little more. It was great meeting so many fantastic future toads, but the best part for me came over Jamaican food at Larry’s Restaurant in Inglewood as I listened to my ever eloquent and downright lovable advisee Mahogany speak to the crowd in attendance. Like the all the kids in the room that day, she applied to us through the A Better Chance program, and three years ago attended the very same event she was now helping to make happen. I caught her mother’s proud eyes as Mahogany’s humor and honesty won over the room each time she spoke, and was so grateful to be there to see it.