Natalie Beck Photography

  Somewhere between preschool drop-off and senior year, we lost track of time and now that teddy bear that brand new and fuzzy is worn and loved. Seniors, you’ve been becoming yourself for years. Little by little, you’ve discovered your passions, found your people, and grown into someone uniquely you. The future is calling, and it’s exciting to watch you step toward it. To the parents, I get it. It feels like yesterday you were zipping up that tiny backpack, wiping away tears, and wondering if they’d be okay without you for a few hours. Now they’re standing in a cap and gown, talking about college, careers, and adventures of their own. It’s hard to let go. And as any natural event in our lives, we get to let go and watch our beautiful children step more into their own. This is why the teddy bear matters. This was when they were ours to hold, protect and love fiercely. This is why the cap matters. This is now, when we get to hold, protect and love fiercely. But with boundaries and a...