06/08/2025
The first time I met Anders I saw that he wasn’t so sure about where he stood. Maybe it was because he was small, but he seemed reluctant to be in the middle of things, always just on the periphery. A little mysterious. Definitely guarded. What I saw back then was a lack of trust in the world to see what he had to offer. I’m not sure he knew what that was himself.
As one of Finn’s steadies, I got to see a lot of him. He’d walk to our house after band practice a few days a week, and the house rang with him and Finn laughing. With a quick and sharp wit, he is one of maybe 4 people that could make Finn laugh out loud, and for that I’ll always be grateful.
But even when Anders was at the back of the pack, he never quit. There was the time he came home with us in between swim meet sessions, devastated he’d not qualified for championships. I don’t know why he let me in, let me give him that pep talk, but I had a swim story just like his and I couldn’t help but beg him to believe in himself. To this day I choke up when I think of the look on his face down on the pool deck after he finally hit that goal. It’s one of the few times I saw him smile without a guard rail.
We blinked and Anders grew 14 inches. He got stronger and faster and he leaned into all of his gifts. Confidence followed hard work and success in the pool and out in the world. Through a series of considered commitments and calculations, he has found his way to the top of his class.
Anders, you’ve earned your confidence. I hope you’ll have faith in the world to see that there’s more to you than your numbers, calculations and achievements. There’s also kindness, grit and a big unselfconscious smile ready to light it up. Please don’t be stingy with that. Seeing your face at your grad party yesterday, I’d say you look ready to get right in the middle of whatever comes next.
👨🏻🎓❤️
