This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Garrett Lance: Life in Geneva Moves on Without Me

As I go to college and Terry Emma leaves Geneva High School, I realize that the city continues to change.

When I graduated from Geneva High School last May, I said goodbye to a number of teachers and faculty members who had made a significant impact on my adolescent development. Only three months later, I was heading 263 miles southeast to the scenic foothills of Bloomington, IN, and saying hello to Indiana University. As freshman year began, the inherent “newness” and excitement of college life made me all but forget about the city of Geneva.

Returning home for Christmas, I began to see my town differently. Not only was the city covered in a fresh layer of snow, but new restaurants and shops had popped up while others had closed. For the first time in my life, I had been away from Geneva for more than two weeks. And, for the first time in my life, I was able to see changes in the city more clearly.

After recently completing my second semester at Indiana, I was excited to see what changes Geneva had in store for me now. Last Friday, my parents and I made the five-hour drive back home in a car filled to the ceiling with belongings that once occupied a 12-foot by 16-foot dorm room. I unpacked my luggage and then soon became bored realizing I had nothing to do.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Eager to revisit the high school, a few friends and I headed over to GHS to catch up with our former teachers. Unfortunately, there was one person I wouldn’t be able to see: Student Activities Coordinator Terry Emma. As last month, Terry was named as the Executive Director of the Geneva History Center and began her new job in early May.

As Student Council President, I spent much of my senior year collaborating with Terry on everything from Homecoming to a community coat drive. She was so much fun to work with and truly cared about the school and the community. I certainly understand why the Geneva History Center chose Terry as the new director; but many students at GHS will undoubtedly miss her.

Find out what's happening in Genevawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As I grow up, I seem to expect Geneva to stay the same. But, just as I’ve moved on with my life, so has the city, and so has Terry. I’m glad that she now has a greater role to serve the community she loves and I’m glad that I still have a beautiful town to return home to every summer.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?