United Church of Pittsford

Good morning. As you all probably know, I am Kylie Peterson, the one with the E.

I want to begin by saying "everything happens for a reason." That is something that one of my close friends told me and it has stuck with me for a very long time. I believe that the church has become such a big part of my life for a reason. Not many teenagers can say they go to church because THEY want to. But for me, I am a different story. I have been a part of almost every church activity that you could possibly think of. All the years of Sunday school, junior choir, melody chimes, junior bells, now senior bells, discipleship class, AGAPE, tiny tots, cribbery, creative time, and I have helped out in some way with almost every supper, even when I had a broken ankle. Being a part of all these activities has allowed me to get to know a lot of people. And they all have made a huge impact on my life.

I first started my faith journey whether I knew it or not with junior choir and junior bells. Music has always had a soft spot in my life and it will continue to play a huge role in my future I am sure. I remember when I first started junior bells. We had this director that made my Tuesday nights totally worthwhile. I asked Miss Kathy to be my sponsor for discipleship class and boy am I glad I did. I gained more than faith that year. I gained a close friend. Her personality is so infectious and bubbly, I guess that is why we work well together. I still even manage to learn a thing or two from Miss Kathy, bad habits, like taking my shoes off when I play bells. She has taught me a lot and I will never forget her. She has done so much for me, in faith she has encouraged me to ask the unanswerable questions, and in life she has taught me that hard work and passion for what I do will take me anywhere.

As I said earlier the music program holds a soft place in my heart. Miss Kathy, Whitney, Mrs. Albright, Miss Dot, and the Pam's never stop impressing me. I learn something from them every day. They have such passion for what they do. It drives me to put as much passion as I can in everything that I do. Another person that I have learned tons of life lessons from who is also like an older sister to me is Ivanka. She was my piano teacher for a few years and I enjoyed every moment of it, even the times when she would yell at me for my nails being too long. Ivanka runs back and forth from the organ to the piano every Sunday and I just sit in awe with the amazing performance that she give us. As you know, Dayna and I take care of her kids on Sunday and I don't find that a chore, it's a learning experience and I realize how much running around Ivanka really does! Some days I wonder if she is going to tear the walls down with all that she has going on, but somehow she manages to keep her cool. She makes things look so effortless but I know what happens behind the scenes I admire that.

There are many adults in the church that I know I can always turn to. I actually don't think that there is anyone that I would be afraid to walk up to. Everyone in the church is so welcoming and has open arms. I have sat in front of Ms. Snyder for 18 years and after all those years she still hasn't said a word about Dayna or me miss behaving during church. She has become a very close friend and I love seeing her on Tuesday nights at bells and her snickerdoodles. Everyone involved with the youth has been a big help in my faith journey.

Mary has helped me so much answer my unanswerable questions, sometimes I still don't understand but she never gives up on me. She always takes discussions to the next level that makes my brain start spinning and I go off on my wild tangents.

Dan, Oh Dan, coming in half the year I have to say he did a very nice job getting into the grove of things. He encouraged me to go to Flower City over spring break and I don't regret one minute that my spring break was not spent sleeping in. Dan also planned so many events for us that really made me wrap my head around complicated things.

And Scott. Getting to know you better this year made me realize that God put us here to listen and give advice. With a little help I know I will be just as good of a person as you are one day.

Most of all AGAPE, AGAPE is more than the love of God. AGAPE is the love for one another. I don't think I would be as far along on my faith walk if it wasn't for the people apart of AGAPE. We are a group of people that really might not have been friends if it weren't for youth group. Going to Sutherland was kinda hard because I wasn't able to be a part of the group as they walked through Mendon halls. But I was there at heart. Because of AGAPE I have gained friendship and trust in these people that I will never forget.

I am graduating with 6 of my best friends, we are all going different directions but I know we will all stay in touch. While in college I know it will be tough to stick to our faith but we have to stand out of the crowd and prove our faith in God.

Finally, I think the biggest enforcer of my faith and my personality has to be my family. The person that I admire most is my mom. I hear from everyone that my mom is the hardest worker, and the sweetest person that anyone has known. I don't doubt that. My mom works so hard and I think I have taken that for granted all these years. I realized all those little things she does now that she works in Boston. Somehow she manages to work, do laundry, cook dinner, work outside, go shopping, clean, do church things and spend time with the family while she is home on the weekend.

My mom has repeated three things to me since the day I was born. One, find a job where you enjoy doing what your doing, work is much more enjoyable that way. Two, live within your means. And Three, I love you. Well I love you too mom, thank you. And thank you Dad for enforcing some rules that I don't agree with, it paid off in the end. And Dayna thank you for being my little sister, even though we fight, we recently have been having more of our sister moments and I enjoy them. But you still can't have my shoes.

My favorite verse Luke 12:34 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." My faith is my treasure that I still haven't completely found, but I will always be looking for it, and when I find it I know my heart will be in the right place.