Dear UGA® Miracle,

My name is Tess Abraham and I am the 2023-2024 Executive Director of UGA® Miracle. Oftentimes, when we hear the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun”, we just smile and acknowledge a bittersweet moment, thinking nothing more of the simple phrase. But now, going into my fourth and final year of college, I am realizing that this seemingly direct phrase could not be closer to the truth. Time does fly when you are having fun. Suddenly, I am not a freshman anymore, excited to see where my college journey would take me. Suddenly, UGA does not seem like such a foreign place, but a home filled with some of the best memories. Suddenly, I am a rising senior asking myself where all the time has gone, but feeling so honored to be able to serve a community of amazing students benefiting some of the most amazing, resilient families. It seems impossible that I am where I am today, but I could not be more grateful for the amazing memories and true, genuine joy I have experienced at this university.  

August of 2020 was a tricky time to be entering college. In the midst of the pandemic, I felt uneasy about moving away from home and trying to adjust to student life at such a big university. I did not know if it was possible to have anything close to a “normal” freshman year when classes were virtual, face masks and social distancing separated students, and the world was in an unpredictable state. Nonetheless, I decided to join a zoom call for a UGA® Miracle meeting, hoping to find a sense of community even through a screen. Week after week, I logged onto the meetings and began to form my own connections and admire my committee Co-Chairs. I knew that this organization was something special, and if I could just hold onto that feeling, I would find my own community and be able to impact Miracle families. I really had no idea how many amazing things were in store, but I am beyond thankful that I stuck it out and felt a spark that drove me to continue on in this organization.

After my first year in UGA® Miracle, my desire to benefit our families and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta was strong. I applied for a leadership position and was over the moon when I was given the chance to lead as a Morale Assistant Chair. I learned even more about UGA Miracle’s impact, met so many amazing families, danced my heart out with some amazing people and had so much genuine fun. I look back at my year on Morale and am reminded of some of the best times that inspire me to be my best as a leader, friend, and UGA® Miracle member.

My junior year is when I really discovered the magic of buying into this organization. I led as a Campus Recruitment Co-Chair alongside one of the most amazing, encouraging, driven and hilarious girls I have ever met, Caroline. I truly believe that the universe put us in the Camp Recruitment position together for a reason, and getting to work on a team with Caroline recruiting UGA students is really the reason I am writing to you as Executive Director today. We shared so many laughs together, with our peers, and with UGA® Miracle families that I will forever treasure.  

Now, here I am, going into my senior year. I am simply in awe of how quickly time has flown by, but beyond thrilled to see all of the amazing things that lie ahead for this organization in the upcoming year. I continue to feel inspired by thousands of students coming together for one common goal, our families and hospital, in the midst of their crazy college lives. Every day that we have as students in UGA® Miracle is an opportunity to fight for a better tomorrow and champion our families, and I know that our students will do just that. To all of my peers- let’s make every day we have together count, as I think we can all agree- time flies when you’re having fun!

Thank you UGA® Miracle. For everything.  

All my best,

Tess Abraham