Tessa,
All of the world’s philosophies and religions agree that the greatest life is the life lived full of authenticity and love.

I am so grateful that you allowed me to witness you living your life so fully and authentically. You shined so bright and allowed others to shine their brightest around you.

You are a teacher and you taught everyone around you, whether they were aware of it or not.

You taught lessons of kindness to the other children at your school through acts large and small, seen and unseen.

You taught lessons on joy and playfulness.

And most importantly for the adults that knew you, you taught life’s most important lessons on radical self acceptance, sef love, truth, integrity, and commitment.

I am honored that I had the privilege to share these moments of time together.

Know that you are surrounded by love, on this day, and every day til the end of time.