Carly Lorntsen

I am from books

from journal books and diaries

I am from the South hills neighborhood

and where my favorite dog Casper and I would frolic in the grass and watch cars drive by

I am from the rose bushes

whose aroma and smell was very sweet

I am from the baseball glove I used to play catch with my dad and the deck of cards I played “go fish” with my mom

from Roy and Deanna

and from hard workers and comedy driven individuals

from a family that has strong love and commitment to one another

I am from Christmas dinners filled with love and laughter

from Turkey and stuffing that will make your mouth water

from the middle finger my grandfather Roy lost while working hard in the mine to support his family

and from the black belt my Great Grandpa Martin received in karate

the first day of Kindergarten on the same day of the tragic 9/11 event where my mom had walked me to with me being so afraid but my mother gave me courage and I felt safe to go which led to my continued educational journey today

I am from the moments… that had the greatest impact on me, creating the young woman I am today

I am from a line of incredible ancestry that I am extremely grateful for that have also passed their genes on to me making me strong and resilient

My Grandpa Roy who lost his battle with Dementia in 2019. One of my biggest influencers in continuing to attend and do well in school. I am part of him and he is a huge part in creating the person I am today. I will always love and miss him dearly. I still cannot believe that he is gone from this world but I will continue to make him proud.

My Grandpa Roy enjoying his days on his boat that he was so proud of. Here, he was fishing on his favorite lake Francois Lake which is about 30 km south of Burns Lake. I took this photo and I will cherish this day forever. This was the day that he actually allowed me to drive the boat at age 7! I was so proud.

My always happy mom and dad that I am forever grateful for. They are also the biggest influencers and hero’s in my life. They always gave me such a loving, stable, and happy home to grow up in and always pushed me to be the best that I can be. My mom has had Multiple Sclerosis since I was four years old and is the strongest woman I know and my dad has always worked so incredibly hard to support us and taught me the value of hard work and dedication. I love them so incredibly much and would be lost without them.

Here is my beautiful Grandma Deanna who I never had the opportunity to meet but she is a huge part of me. She passed away from brain and lung cancer at the age of 47 when my mom was at the age of 25 which is the age I am at during this present moment. I find comfort in my mom telling me so many stories of her and how we are so much alike which makes me so incredibly happy. I wish that she could see where her granddaughter is at in her educational journey and just as a young woman still finding her way in life. My middle name is Deanna named after her and I am so proud to call her my grandmother.