December 30, 2008 by Rhianna
I am writing this in remembrance of a student of mine, Brian. He was a part of our Spanish Club that was planning a trip to Spain during his Junior year. Throughout that school year, he had really dealt with just not feeling well and being very fatigued and going through many tests trying to figure out what was going on. When it came time for our Spanish trip, his mom was concerned about letting him come with us not knowing what was wrong, having done so many tests. In the end, his mom decided to let him go since there was no reason to not let him go. He felt he could handle the trip and I assured his mom that I would keep close watch on him to make sure he was doing alright while traveling.
Our trip was 11 days long and it covered all of Spring Break, plus a few days. It was amazing! We visited Madrid, Salamanca, and Barcelona, as well as many smaller towns that are known for their beauty. We saw cathedrals, landmarks, museums, and many, many other amazing things. Brian loved it all! The whole time he talked about wanting to go back during college or with his family. He talked in wonder about the beauty of some of the things we saw. He loved the architecture and could repeat back much of what our tour guides had taught us.
When we returned from the trip, Brian had another slew of tests done. Within two weeks of returning from our trip, we found out Brian had cancer. It was a huge shock and was very difficult for our entire staff and student body. I don’t want to go into details of the time that followed, but Brian worked so hard to graduate with his class and to continue to pursue his dreams and goals. As I look back on that time, I remember realizing that God had really planned out that timeline for Brian. He knew that Brian needed to go to Spain with us. God knew that it would be best for Brian to enjoy the trip with us without knowing what the future was going to hold for him. Brian had the trip of a lifetime and for that, I am thankful. I am so blessed to know that God loved Brian enough to give him that trip before all that he had to go through. I am also blessed to have gotten to be a part of that trip with Brian. What a great memory to have with him!
Brian just passed away one year ago from yesterday. I am so thankful that God allowed me to be a part of his life and a part of shaping the life that he knew. He was such a respectful and responsible person who cared about everyone. He loved to make people laugh and he loved to laugh. He was truly a blessing. So, here’s to Brian. Enjoy the pictures from our Spain trip!

If you knew Brian, feel free to leave a memory or thought as a comment.
If you didn’t know Brian, you are still welcome to leave a comment!