Affirmations of our Accomplishments

I received many beautiful, supportive responses to my e-mail to the class last May. I will be sharing some of them here, with permission. Thank you to everyone who wrote to me. I tried to return all of your e-mails, but if I missed you, please accept my sincerest thanks for your note, and my apologies for not composing a response. My inbox was flooded in the days following that e-mail, and kind notes still trickle in as people discover it here. While I tried not to overlook anyone, the sheer volume of responses makes me suspect I must have missed at least one of you.

Here's my most recent response:

"Naomi, I am a ’94 Ada and as such, I contribute personal news to another Ada Comstock Smith sister. However, I wanted to thank you and congratulate you on the message you wrote last May. You nailed it when you cautioned your reader not to put too much emphasis on stories read in the Quarterly. Not every Smithie will achieve great fame, earn a suitable or far better income, or achieve the magnificent dreams that took her on her Smith “experience.”

I used to feel terrible for a few days after reading into a piece [in the Quarterly] that I was not what I should be, that I hadn’t made significant strides in helping mankind, wasn’t earning large sums of money, or changing the world in any tangible way. It really did help to hear another Smithie place those self-doubts and concerns into their proper place.

From now on, when I pick up the Quarterly to read yet another super-success story (and rightfully so), I will think of you and the wisdom you generously shared with me, a Smithie who might yet change the world.

Thank you,

Jean (DJ Clower) Sherwin