File:Senior 2021 Tatum Horton.jpg

Summary

Tatum Horton - she is the pride of our family, the hope for our future and the spark of light that enters our day each and every day. From the moment she entered our world, she has brought the best out of all of us in our home. As a dad, I admire this young lady and wish I could have been more like her when I was her age and sometime wish I could be more like her now. To hear the laughter echoing through the house from her and her mom - well, it’s something I never want to be without. To hear her sit with her guitar and sing songs she has written and ones she enjoys gives me such pride as a songwriter, as a singer and as a fan. Her mom and I stop in our tracks anytime we hear her singing in the house to listen as long as she will keep playing. Her talents have astounded us, her knowledge has inspired us and her heart made us better people. We are both so very thankful that we are her parents, though we haven’t gotten it right many times, she makes us look like we knew exactly what we were doing. Yesterday was her senior prom. A day we were both very proud of and a day my wife, Natalie, and I have dreaded. Dreaded because we know it means the time is coming to let her fly and take on the world. Graduation day will fill us with so much pride and scare as to pieces. She has become a beautiful young woman with a strong will and an impressive sense of self. Her incredible courage as a person and her honesty with herself and others gives her a life compass that will serve her well. She has learned to rely on herself and be relied upon by her friends and anyone around her. All too soon, our home will feel so empty because Tatum will be moving on to her new adventure of college. It is already closing in much too quickly. But we will look forward to hearing the stories of new friends, new surroundings and life for her more on her own. (Without her ‘helicopter parents’. LOL) After an internship with NIH and the National Cancer Institute this past school year, she will be doing yet another internship with them this summer studying various types of cancer and gaining research knowledge from some of America’s top scientists in the field. She will be attending Texas A&M University as a Biology student in the fall. After being accepted to no less than 9 major universities across the country, we feel that she made an amazing choice for her future. Tatum, we love you more than air and we could never be more proud of the young lady you are and the beautiful woman you will be. -with all the love in the world to you, kiddo, Mom & Dad