One day

Drew Collins is an average girl with everything going in her life. Sure, she dreams one day she’ll go off and do something big, but she’s content to leave that to her dreams. What happens when one day actually happens? Will Drew be able to overcome her own anxiety to truly discover herself and embrace the adventure in front of her? This story is full of twists, turns, unexpected love, and self-discovery.

I took a deep inhale of air as I walked out my front door. The sun had just arced over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pinks, blues, and reds. Like a canvas in the hands of an impressionist, the sky gives off an initial notion that the day holds endless opportunities swaddled peacefully in wispy pastel clouds; the morning still early enough that it has barely stirred. However, something lingers within the clouds making my foot to pause fueling my car’s engine… the red… and quietly my mind goes back to the saying anyone who’s grown up by the water knows:

Red skies by night, sailors delight

Red skies by morn, sailors be warned

Whether from naivety or youthful optimism, the ominous warning of the red disappears from my mind and the sky as the sun continues to rise. I drive the same, short route through my small fishing town each morning in the car I’ve driven for nearly a decade. My gray Toyota Highlander has the potential to look like the typical soccer mom car, appropriate for a fully functional adult to be driving to work, but that image is replaced by the youthful stickers and gimmicky air fresheners that decorate the vehicle. This car, much like me, is on its way into a future, while still holding on to my former identity. Without allowing another deep thought to enter my mind, I turn up the alternative pop music that has caught my ear recently and use the positive beat to motivate myself to make the most of today.

Much too quickly for my liking, I pull into the parking spot with the number that matches my office issued tag. I quickly turn my key, remove it from the ignition, and bury my bulky keychain in my bag before remaining in my seat, not quite ready to exit the vehicle. My mind skims through the day’s schedule: 8:30 session, 10:00 session, a quick lunch, and a 1:00 session before the daily staff meeting. The day will end with group therapy at 5:00. This isn’t something I stay for once all of the clients are checked in on Mondays, but I will stay to lead the group tomorrow. I work as an advocate and therapy technician for a mental health facility that provides services to adolescents struggling with mental health due to trauma.

I love the work my office is doing for these kids. The “New Windows Group” was started by a former school principal who went back to school to become a therapist because she wanted to be able to “help kids more.” Sandra Harrison, my boss, was the principal at a small secondary school when she just quit her job one day. Without going into much detail, she explained to the staff of New Windows that she’d grown increasingly frustrated with the behavior issues, criminal entanglements, and drop-outs that came and went from her principal’s office. She uses this story as the reason behind her life’s motto: when God closes a door, He opens a window.

Sandra believed she was no longer serving students through her role as principal and that God had called her to pursue another path, so one day she crawled out a window. Literally. Sandra Harrison, principal of Cedar Ridge Secondary School, crawled out a window leaving work on her last day as principal. This would be odd behavior coming from most adults, but it fit her. Principal Harrison had always been an eccentric woman, but I think that’s what the kids liked about her so much.

I was still in school at the time of Principal Harrison’s “daring escape,” although I attended the local private school, Briarcliff Prep, instead. Living in a small town, her behavior was the juiciest gossip for most of the summer. Mothers and children alike would speculate as to what she would do next while sitting by the neighborhood pool or strolling about the aisles of a store. People who didn’t know Sandra tried explaining her behavior as clearly the early stages of a psychotic break while former students wished her the best and reminisced on their days at Cedar Ridge. I was always impressed with her bravery to leave despite questioning her religious explanation, but I would’ve never admitted it at the time while surrounded by the judging eyes of the town.

Years later, Sandra successfully runs New Windows, and I was proud when she brought me on initially as an intern then later as an advocate and technician. She saw the same potential and heart in me that she had at my age, Sandra told me once when I first started. I held on to that statement and began to see the rosy future I was building for myself. Truly, I think this small phrase, which she probably said to every new hire without thought, is what allowed me to confidently start working. With a round face, long auburn hair, and a love for somewhat trendy fashion and makeup looks, nothing physically separated me from the kids we worked with. I was a kid with the authority of an adult challenged with supporting kids who’ve seen far more than most in their short lifetimes. No pressure, though...

Out of college, I was the first in my class to get a job. This was a point of great pride for me, especially because I wasn’t valedictorian or some decorated honor student. Totally average, yet I was making strides in my career goals. The security New Windows provided also allowed me to quickly begin additional degree work to become a licensed therapist, a goal of mine since I was a teenager. My plan was all mapped out: finish school, become a licensed therapist, hopefully meet someone and settle down, save kids, and live a fulfilling life. Of course, it is the perfect plan.

Sure I was a small town girl still living in the town I grew up in, but I had a respectable future ahead of me. Admittedly, I recognize the cliche in my current state. Most adventure stories and epics begin like this. I’ll probably watch a movie this Saturday with a similar beginning, but a story is all it will ever be for me because I do everything according to society’s expectations. One might call me a perfectionist. In my life, I try to maintain a reasonable balance of work, socializing, fitness, and creative outlets. Again, this is a point of pride for me. I expect this kind of balance and drive of myself within reason. I added the within reason bit because I’m not a robot. I know I can’t be perfect, but that won’t stop me from striving to be the best version of me I can be. With all that said, Drew Collins had all the makings of a well adjusted young adult, but something remained in the back of my mind… the red.