Dear Grandpa,

We haven't talked in a while. In fact, I don't think I've ever gotten to talk to you really. And yet, I feel this real sense of closeness to you. I think that you and I are a lot a like. I use your violin, but you already know that. You came to all my concerts and performances. You sat through all those hours I practiced, not even whincing when I played out-of-tune.

Now I am at college, and I am finding out a lot more about the legacy you left behind. You see, academics is very important to me, I really like studying and learning more, and I suppose I get that from you. I'm not crazy about writing long papers, I don't have a creative sense of style, but yet I learn and remember things really quick. Math clicks in my head, and that is why I do so well in Economics. I wonder if I would have picked math over Econ if I knew more about you before. But I'm glad I picked Econ, because it is my passion. And even more importantly, if I didn't major in Econ, I wouldn't have found this information about you. You see, my econometrics professor, James McDonald, once took math classes from YOU. I am going to work as his TA next semester, and you know what he told me? He told me that you would be proud of me. I hope you are proud of me Grandpa. I think that if you were in my place, you would have picked economics too--what can I say? It's just so fun!

I learned that you have a large math scholarship named after you at Utah State. What a great way to leave behind a tangible legacy of your passion. So even though I haven't talked to you much, in a way I know you so well, because I know myself. I hope to be more like you in the future. I don't think I'll end up as a math professor--you see, I have some of grandma in me too, I want to have kids--but I do want to leave some sort of legacy behind. Any ideas? I love you Grandpa.

Heather