I recently entered an essay I wrote in a local writing contest. To my great surprise, the essay won first place in its category. Of all the pieces I entered in the contest, this essay is the closest to my heart. It is about my friend Grant Richey and how he changed my life. Please enjoy.
Changed For Good
by Kate Sandvik
There are very few times in life when we meet someone who changes us forever. In the summer of 2005, when I was 11-years-old, I met someone who did just that. His name was Grant Richey, whom I met at a performing arts camp called Sing Minnesota. He was in charge of the drama department at the camp. Unfortunately, that camp was only one week long. However, Grant’s exuberant personality and comedic nature made him unforgettable. In that week, Grant taught me many basic acting skills that are priceless now.
During that summer, I was making the transition from elementary school to middle school and switching to a different school district. I was glad that my experience in acting over the summer had given me a confidence boost. I was ready to walk up to people and say hello to them. Within the first week a school, I had a new group of friends. I could not have had such a positive experience if I had not met Grant.
Grant always had the most interesting personality quirks. He had a truly unforgettable laugh; it was a combination of a chuckle and a giggle. I could not help laughing every time I heard it. Grant also wore plaid shorts almost every day during the summer and sometimes he would wear his sweatshirts inside-out. That was Grant. For him, looks were not important; it only mattered what was on the inside.
The next summer, I was thrilled to go back to camp. When I got back, I was excited to see that Grant had returned as well. I thought it would be my last week with Grant because the following year I would be too old for the camp. I was very unhappy when the week was over.
Since I had outgrown Sing Minnesota, I was determined to find another camp. I found a camp called Broadway Bound and I was looking forward to meeting new people. On the first day of camp, I was pleasantly surprised to see Grant there. Knowing the director put me at ease. At first, Grant was unsure of how we knew each other but as soon as I reminded him, we began reminiscing about the days at Sing Minnesota. As camp went on, the other campers and I sang and acted our hearts out. Every day, Grant taught everyone more about acting and performing. He shared his love of theatre with us.
During the following summer, I came back to Broadway Bound and so did Grant. It was so much fun working with him again. Instead of having specific roles as we did the previous year, we switched parts throughout the show. Grant always did a very good job assigning people the parts they wanted and the parts they deserved. He always surprised everyone with his casting. He picked the people who were the most talented, not who was the most popular or similar to the role. Grant didn’t believe in favoritism, but in letting everyone have the opportunity to play a lead.
Since Grant had experience directing and acting all over the country, he had made friends throughout the industry. One time during that summer at Broadway Bound, he asked his friend Tinia to come in and choreograph a song. On the first day Tinia worked with us, I tried very hard to impress her because she was Grant’s friend. She inspired me with her dancing ability and her boundless energy. Tinia’s face was always glittering with a giant grin and she was generally giggling giddily like Grant. Tinia and Grant created a positive working atmosphere and treated us as though we were their equals.
The end of camp that summer brought tears to my eyes. I did not want it to end but I knew that it had to. It was almost as if I knew it was the last time I would work with Grant.
On November 10, 2008, I found out that Grant had colon cancer. Naturally, I was scared for Grant. He said that this was the cancer he was “blessed to beat.” On November 16th there was a benefit concert held for Grant. I went with a few other Broadway Bound kids and had a fabulous time. Happily, I ran into Grant’s friend Tinia. Grant was there of course. Being able to see and talk to him was great. His cancer had drastically changed his appearance, but he was still the same Grant. He was laughing, smiling, and causing everyone around him to do the same. It was easy to forget that inside his body a difficult battle was being fought.
As I was leaving, I noticed Grant nearby. I told my friends to wait and I hustled over to where he was standing and said, “I just wanted one more hug.” He chuckled and hugged me. I told him goodbye and he said, “No, not goodbye. See you later.” I smiled, looked into his eyes, he nodded, and I believed him.
Throughout the year, Grant’s health fluctuated. Through his fight he was directing and performing as much as he could. He had planned to come back to Broadway Bound during that summer but had to back out a few weeks before because he was too ill. Camp just wasn’t the same without Grant. His absence made me realize the seriousness of his cancer. I knew that Grant would never back out of directing unless he absolutely had to.
By November, Grant’s condition was slowly but steadily declining. I was scared out of my mind about what might happen to Grant. I tried to be brave and strong for him while on the inside, my heart was slowly breaking. Thinking about Grant made me want to crawl in a corner and cry. I knew Grant’s death was imminent but I knew I would never be prepared for it. To my great sadness and disbelief, Grant passed away on November 26, 2009.
I was completely devastated. I could not believe he was actually dead. I did not want to believe it was true. The day that Grant died was Thanksgiving. It was so like him to die on a holiday, especially Thanksgiving because Grant always expressed how grateful he was for his family and friends. Also, everyone who knew him was thankful that they had known such a generous and inspiring person.
Grant taught me nearly everything I know about acting, but he also taught me how to live. I know that wherever I go and whatever I do I will always carry that knowledge with me. Grant watched me change from a child to a young adult and was there guiding me every step of the way. Because of Grant, I grew to respect and love who I am and love everyone around me. I owe a great deal to Grant and the five years that I knew him; I would not be where I am today without him.
by Kate Sandvik
There are very few times in life when we meet someone who changes us forever. In the summer of 2005, when I was 11-years-old, I met someone who did just that. His name was Grant Richey, whom I met at a performing arts camp called Sing Minnesota. He was in charge of the drama department at the camp. Unfortunately, that camp was only one week long. However, Grant’s exuberant personality and comedic nature made him unforgettable. In that week, Grant taught me many basic acting skills that are priceless now.
During that summer, I was making the transition from elementary school to middle school and switching to a different school district. I was glad that my experience in acting over the summer had given me a confidence boost. I was ready to walk up to people and say hello to them. Within the first week a school, I had a new group of friends. I could not have had such a positive experience if I had not met Grant.
Grant always had the most interesting personality quirks. He had a truly unforgettable laugh; it was a combination of a chuckle and a giggle. I could not help laughing every time I heard it. Grant also wore plaid shorts almost every day during the summer and sometimes he would wear his sweatshirts inside-out. That was Grant. For him, looks were not important; it only mattered what was on the inside.
The next summer, I was thrilled to go back to camp. When I got back, I was excited to see that Grant had returned as well. I thought it would be my last week with Grant because the following year I would be too old for the camp. I was very unhappy when the week was over.
Since I had outgrown Sing Minnesota, I was determined to find another camp. I found a camp called Broadway Bound and I was looking forward to meeting new people. On the first day of camp, I was pleasantly surprised to see Grant there. Knowing the director put me at ease. At first, Grant was unsure of how we knew each other but as soon as I reminded him, we began reminiscing about the days at Sing Minnesota. As camp went on, the other campers and I sang and acted our hearts out. Every day, Grant taught everyone more about acting and performing. He shared his love of theatre with us.
During the following summer, I came back to Broadway Bound and so did Grant. It was so much fun working with him again. Instead of having specific roles as we did the previous year, we switched parts throughout the show. Grant always did a very good job assigning people the parts they wanted and the parts they deserved. He always surprised everyone with his casting. He picked the people who were the most talented, not who was the most popular or similar to the role. Grant didn’t believe in favoritism, but in letting everyone have the opportunity to play a lead.
Since Grant had experience directing and acting all over the country, he had made friends throughout the industry. One time during that summer at Broadway Bound, he asked his friend Tinia to come in and choreograph a song. On the first day Tinia worked with us, I tried very hard to impress her because she was Grant’s friend. She inspired me with her dancing ability and her boundless energy. Tinia’s face was always glittering with a giant grin and she was generally giggling giddily like Grant. Tinia and Grant created a positive working atmosphere and treated us as though we were their equals.
The end of camp that summer brought tears to my eyes. I did not want it to end but I knew that it had to. It was almost as if I knew it was the last time I would work with Grant.
On November 10, 2008, I found out that Grant had colon cancer. Naturally, I was scared for Grant. He said that this was the cancer he was “blessed to beat.” On November 16th there was a benefit concert held for Grant. I went with a few other Broadway Bound kids and had a fabulous time. Happily, I ran into Grant’s friend Tinia. Grant was there of course. Being able to see and talk to him was great. His cancer had drastically changed his appearance, but he was still the same Grant. He was laughing, smiling, and causing everyone around him to do the same. It was easy to forget that inside his body a difficult battle was being fought.
As I was leaving, I noticed Grant nearby. I told my friends to wait and I hustled over to where he was standing and said, “I just wanted one more hug.” He chuckled and hugged me. I told him goodbye and he said, “No, not goodbye. See you later.” I smiled, looked into his eyes, he nodded, and I believed him.
Throughout the year, Grant’s health fluctuated. Through his fight he was directing and performing as much as he could. He had planned to come back to Broadway Bound during that summer but had to back out a few weeks before because he was too ill. Camp just wasn’t the same without Grant. His absence made me realize the seriousness of his cancer. I knew that Grant would never back out of directing unless he absolutely had to.
By November, Grant’s condition was slowly but steadily declining. I was scared out of my mind about what might happen to Grant. I tried to be brave and strong for him while on the inside, my heart was slowly breaking. Thinking about Grant made me want to crawl in a corner and cry. I knew Grant’s death was imminent but I knew I would never be prepared for it. To my great sadness and disbelief, Grant passed away on November 26, 2009.
I was completely devastated. I could not believe he was actually dead. I did not want to believe it was true. The day that Grant died was Thanksgiving. It was so like him to die on a holiday, especially Thanksgiving because Grant always expressed how grateful he was for his family and friends. Also, everyone who knew him was thankful that they had known such a generous and inspiring person.
Grant taught me nearly everything I know about acting, but he also taught me how to live. I know that wherever I go and whatever I do I will always carry that knowledge with me. Grant watched me change from a child to a young adult and was there guiding me every step of the way. Because of Grant, I grew to respect and love who I am and love everyone around me. I owe a great deal to Grant and the five years that I knew him; I would not be where I am today without him.
