I’ve moved on. It’s now finally the time I’ve been dreading for months. It’s time for me to graduate. This really feels like an out of body experience, I mean I’ve gone to City Day for as long as I could remember and to think today was my last time being in class with my teachers and my classmates, is sickening. Although I am so terribly dejected that I’ll have to part ways with City Day I am so happy that I get to move on to an entirely new and exciting chapter in my life. Nevertheless, before I depart ways with you all today, It would make me so happy to leave my favorite coach with a deep and heartfelt message. Mrs. Dow to lots, Page Dow to some, but Goldfish to me. I know you might be wondering, why the heck are you calling her the name of a snack. I know I know she was iffy about the name at first too, but after a while it just stuck with her. As most of you know I was able to venture to Puerto Rico with Mrs. Dow, an unforgettable trip for sure. Anyways, on this trip her room in our hotel was about two doors down from mine. The day we arrived we were all instructed to meet downstairs for team dinner.
However, before my friend Jackie and I reached the elevator, we caught a glimpse of Mrs. Dow (shoving) goldfish in her mouth, eating it quickly before having to head downstairs. Now no matter who tells you this story or who knows it, Mrs. Dow is always going to tell you her own version, but I know what I saw. Even till this day every time I bring it up she never fails to tell you how she wasn’t shoving it in her mouth, she was simply just snacking on it in the comfort of her hotel room. After we saw her snacking on the goldfish, she immediately closed her curtains and started yelling at us through the window, frantically waving her arms around while still chewing her food. Haha, great times. That is just one of the many memories I have with her. Now my all time favorite memory I’m about to tell you about is my favorite for a specific reason, and don’t worry it’s not some crappy story that’s gonna bore you, or maybe it will but this specific story is really sentimental to me in so many ways. It was some random winter day, and I had just finished up school for the day, and fortunately for me I had to go to aftercare that day and my best friend Jackie had to as well.
So since we were both there we decided to go up stairs to the first grade room. I’ll always remember that walk through the hallway, seeing the newly decorated door or the art projects of the first graders. But my all time favorite part was walking into that room and hearing the two most delightful voices I have ever heard. Ms. Smith and Goldfish. I regret this so much till this day but every time my friend and I walked in we always went straight to Ms. Smith’s desk. Ms. Smith came to City Day in 2024 not long ago at all, but I don’t know I met her and instantly I adored her, and in a way I slowly started to neglect Goldfish. And on that day we walked in. Ms. Smith was getting ready to leave due to a wedding she had to fly to, so it was just Jackie, Goldfish, and me. Just how I liked it. I don’t recall what we’re talking about but I mentioned something about my favorite person at school, and immediately, Goldfish goes “ Who Ms. Smith.”. A part of me realized that I had finally done it, I had finally let Goldfish down. I looked at her and said “ No, we could never replace the OG.” While that did make her smile I could see deep down she was hurt.
Seeing her hurt made me upset, it made me feel weak inside. I never intended on making her feel like I no longer needed her just because someone new had come into life. And then out of the blue she apologized for not being with her so often. She apologized and it really broke me. She stated that she tries to get home early so she can spend more time with her kids, her son specifically. She had recently had her adorable baby Jamie. She unfortunately felt a lot of guilt to my understanding because she felt as if she was spending, and focusing so much of her time being a teacher more than she was able to be a mother. She works so hard in everything she does whether that’s being an amazing coach, mother, wife, co- worker, or teacher she is just truly a powerful and hard working woman, most would call her superwomen and I don’t know what I would have done without her at City Day. I love you so much Goldfish and even though I’m leaving I’m never letting go.
Love Rae
Raegan Murphy – North Shore Country Day – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: Raegan Murphy