The Echo

The fireworks ended hours earlier, but the real spark came at 1:30 a.m.

A teenage girl wrote to tell me who my son is in the world — a light, a ritual, a joy, a better‑person catalyst.

I’ve spent years telling Jack’s story from my vantage point.

At 1:30 on Sunday morning, I got to hear it from someone else’s.

Her text profoundly impacted me, for several reasons There is something life‑altering about seeing your child reflected back through the eyes of someone who loves him for exactly who he is.

Below is her text:

Hello Ms. Farra! This is __________, one of Jack’s friends from the firework show. I just wanted to tell you how much of a light Jack is in my life. Jack and I shared leadership class our freshman year where his consistent hello brightened my day, every day. Then, both this year and last, I have had lunch with Jack. Jack used to yell at me across the lunch room any time that he saw me. Because of this, we started our daily routine where he says hi to me when I get in the lunchroom, I walk over to his table after grabbing my lunch and have a conversation with him, then after lunch he waits for my friend group outside of the area we eat and he says hi to each person. Any time he is not there, we all ask where Jack is today. This year I had the opportunity to hangout with him at the day of champions as well, where I got to see his pure joy at everything. I say all of this to show how Jack has impacted my life. Jack is the sweetest soul i have ever met, being a large topic of conversation between me and my mother after sports every day. Mom started asking how my conversation with jack went each day because i would always come home and tell her about how I want to be like jack. Seeing so much good in people, his creativity and genuine care for others is a breath of fresh air. Thank you so much for being an amazing parent to Jack, making him the kind person he is. I believe all mothers deserve more acknowledgement than they are given, especially you. I understand that being the parent of a life skills student may come with it’s adversities, and i want to acknowledge the amazing job you are doing. Raising a child comes with no “how to” book, but if there were, i would hope that you wrote it. You are raising the person who made me want to be a better person, so I Thank you. If I get any more information about other kids in the rise program, I will make sure to send it over to you.

***In my text back to her I said, “Please tell YOUR Mom that I appreciate her raising such an empathic, kind, decent – beautiful young woman!”

I can sleep better at night now knowing that Jack has peers/friends like this in his life….

Love & Light