A few months ago, college counselor Ms. Allison Daniel announced that she would be leaving RMA to join the Peace Corps in April of 2015.  She will spend the next two years of her life in Namibia working with at risk teenagers and fulfilling a dream she has had since she was young. With Ms. Daniel’s final full week at Rocky Mount Academy coming to a close, the senior class wanted to take the time to stop and thank her for all of the blood, sweat, and tears that she has put into our college applications.  While she definitely played an integral role in all of our success as a class thus far, it is evident from the messages below that she has meant much more than that to the class of 2015.

“Mrs. Daniel, thank you so much for all you’ve done for us. I wish you well!”  – Hayley Sigmon

“Thank you, Ms. Daniel, for all the love, support, and guidance you have shown all of us throughout our stressful senior year. We could not have made it through this process without you! We will all miss you so much!” – Catherine Coats

“We will miss you Ms. Daniel. Go make the world a better place.”  – Jackson Browder

“Words cannot express enough how much you have meant to this class as whole.  You have been a huge part in getting all of us where we are today and we will always be grateful. Namibia is a lucky country come May.  Have a great time because you deserve it!” – Ashley Bisette

“Thank you so much for everything you have done. I hope you enjoy every moment in the Peace Corps.  I know it will be a great experience and you will be great in everything you do.” – Deanna Mayo

“Thanks for reminding me to capitalize my name on my apps.”  – Christian Toney

“Thank you so much for everything you have done for me, the students, and the faculty of Rocky Mount Academy.  I can still remember clearly the day you told us you were leaving.  To be quiet honest, it broke my heart.  The first thing that ran through my mind was: “what in the world am I going to do without you at school?” Not only did you help me discover and apply to my dream college, but you influenced me to be a better person.  You taught me that no matter how hard life gets, everything will get better.  There is no doubt in my mind that without you, I would not be the young lady I am today.  Whenever I was having a bad day, or I felt that I was never good enough, you always found a way to make me feel better.  As much as it hurts to see you leave, I am extremely happy that you are going to fulfill a dream that has been so close to your heart for a while now.  I’m going to miss you so much Ms. Daniel!  You truly are an inspiration.”

Love,

Baileigh James

“Ms. Daniel, thank you so much for the aid, guidance, and advice that you have given to me during my college application process.  I wish you the best both in life and in your next endeavor with the Peace Corps.” – Sam Brown

“Thank you so much for all that you have done for us. You are an incredible person that has influenced, and will continue to influence, so many people. I hope your Peace Corps adventure is everything you hoped it will be and plus so much more. We will miss you dearly!” – Meg Deyton

“Thank you for all you have done for us this year! We could not have gotten through the stress of college applications without you. And thanks for always playing me in Trivia Crack and Dice with Friends. We will miss you and wish the best of luck to you!” – Ann Claire Roberson

“Thank you for all your help over the past few years.” – Landon Clontz

“Ms. Daniel – thank you for all you’ve done. I am truly grateful for the time you’ve taken out of your day to sit down with me and help me improve my essays and applications. You have been the number one person on this campus for a lot of us, in that you have always cared about our well beings. I remember one time I lost my car keys and I was in a panic. I ran into you in the hall and you noticed something wasn’t right. I explained to you that I left my keys at San Jose. You nicely offered me a ride and sure enough we found my keys. Without you’re help I don’t know what I would have done. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.” – Sabrina Morrison

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me this year! It’s helped a whole lot!” – Garett Walker

“Along with my fellow classmates, I truly will be missing you with your departure. You have helped not only the class as a whole with everything from essay questions, application overviews, and general life advice, but you have helped me personally. For this I am forever grateful to you. As you take this next step in your life journey, I hope that you will keep us all, your last senior class, in your heart. We expect nothing less from the best from you in all of your endeavors in Namibia, and as well expect to hear many exciting updates from your blog. I will always hold lunch conversations in your room and hanging out at break in my fondest of memories. Best of luck! We love you!” – Trevor Graham

“Thank you so much for all you have done for me.  I greatly appreciate all of your hard work because I would not have been able to make it without you!  I will miss the fun times in your office during break and study hall and will not forget the unusually funny and life-altering conversations we tended to have.  Hope to see you soon!”

Love,

Hunter Cuthrell

“Thank you, Ms. Daniel, for all your valuable advice and counseling throughout the year. I appreciate you keeping me focused and on task, even when it seemed like I did not want to listen to you. You will be greatly missed and you are greatly appreciated.” – Nicolas Womack-Gibson

“Thank you for everything you have done for me and helped me with! I wish you the best of luck in Africa!! I am going to miss you!!”

Love,

Katy Jaber

“Thank you so much for your undivided attention over the past two years .The college application process would not have been as easy without your help. I think I can speak for my fellow classmates and say that we really appreciate every piece of advice and knowledge that you have shared with us to get us to the point we are at now. It is so great that you are getting to live out one of your dreams while the rest of us are taking the next step to hopefully be able to live out ours one day. Best of luck to you!” – Claire Stanovich

“Thank you Ms. Daniel for all you have done for me. You sure made my senior year easier.  We all will miss you.” – Mackenzie Butler

“Ms. Daniel, I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me throughout my high school years at RMA. I know everyone is Namibia will love you just as much as we do. Oh, and thanks for teaching me how to say Louisville the correct way!”
– Landin Johnston

“I wish you the best of luck on your new journey.” – Sally Fairman

“Thank you for all your support, guidance, and advice these past few years. I appreciate all the time and work you tirelessly pursued to put all of us, seniors, on the path to success. It is reassuring to know that you will continue changing lives for the better and fostering positive change in the world like you have for the done for years at RMA. I wish you well on the journey that lies ahead, and once again, thank you.” – Vineet Baliga

“Thank you, Ms. Daniel, for everything you’ve done for me over the past year. Good luck during your experience with the Peace Corps. I’m sure you’ll be great.” – Haneen Soufan

“Thanks for putting up with me for so long! I will always cherish the naps I took on your couch, you letting me keep a pillow and blanket in your room, our talks about Serial, and you letting me basically live in your office (thanks for not making me pay rent 🙂 ). I guess you kind of, sort of, maybe, helped me with college applications and figuring out my life in general, and I appreciate that greatly. You are seriously an angel, and I’m so lucky to have you in my life! I wish you luck and safe travel on this next adventure in your life; I’m sure you will have an amazing time. Plan for the best care package you will ever receive. 🙂 ”

With love,

Amy Lerro

“Ms. Daniel, thank you so much for everything you have done for the senior class this year. I don’t think we could have made it through without you. You will definitely be missed but I wish you safe travels and to have a great experience in Africa!” – Rachel Williams

“Thank you so much for everything you have done for me and all the seniors! I’m going to miss sneaking out of Dr.Fritschel’s study hall to come sit in your office with you! Thanks for always keeping the candy jar full and always being there for all of us. Have fun in Africa, we sure are going to miss you!” – Anna Claire Thompson

“Ms. Daniel, I really have no idea where to start, but I keep coming back to the time that you randomly read me the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson that would later become one of my senior quotes: “The years tell a story the days never knew.” Here we are now, months later, and you are about to live out that saying in every way.  I know the Peace Corps has always been a dream of yours and for that reason you truly are a reminder that it is never too late to chase down a dream, no matter the magnitude.  I really am so excited to see where these next two years will take you. With that being said, you will certainly be missed.  I have no doubt in my mind that you are one of the greatest assets that RMA has ever had; someone definitely has big shoes to fill.  “Thanks” just is not enough at this point.

Love,

Colby Kirkpatrick

Even though she will no longer be in her office everyday, Ms. Daniel will remain very much a part of the RMA family for the next two years, where ever they may take her.  Be sure to keep up with her adventures across the Atlantic through her website :

http://www.allisonsadventures.org/