Alumna Lily Beattie still remembers the day her sister, Junior Lucy Beattie, was born. She recalls running up and down the hospital halls, peeking her head into each room to find her family and throwing a fit when her mom wouldn’t let her hold her newborn sister.
“I was all about [Lucy] since day one,” Lily Beattie said.
Lily and Lucy Beattie grew up like any two sisters, close at times and disconnected at others. Their relationship permanently tightened, however, when Lily was admitted to the hospital at age 12 for a rare neurological disorder in her legs. For the two months Lily was treated in the hospital, her sister came to visit her early every morning before going to elementary school.
One year later, when Lily was 13 and Lucy was 11, the girls’ mother was diagnosed with cancer, and the sisters found themselves leaning on each other more than ever before.
“Lucy stood by me no matter what, we’ve both seen some tough things in our life,” Lily Beattie said. “She has been the only person that’s been through it all with me.”
Amid the hard time in their lives, Lily Beattie was sitting in her World Studies class during her sophomore year when she first heard about the Bruin of my Life award, which RBHS gives to students at the Thanksgiving assembly and to seniors at their spring celebration.
“The purpose of the award is to recognize anyone (student, teacher, custodian, cook, secretary etc.) at RB[HS] who has made an impact on your life,” Student Activities Secretary Hannah Casey said. “This could be anything from lending a helping hand to catching you when you fall. These are people who have made these impacts and we want to thank them for taking that extra time.”
After hearing about the award, Lily Beattie immediately thought about her sister; reflecting on all they had been through together and how much she appreciated her for being there for her. She quickly nominated Lucy Beattie for the award.
Students have their chance to use the Bruin of my Life award to express gratitude to someone who has impacted their life, just as Lily Beattie did for her sister. Recipients will receive them during the Thanksgiving assembly Thursday, Nov. 9. 
Students and faculty can nominate someone by picking up an application in the Activities Office, Casey said. The application includes a short writing about how the nominee has influenced lives at RBHS and should be returned to the Activities Office by Monday, Nov. 6.
Once nominees are selected as a Bruin of my Life award recipients, the nomination writings  will be read aloud at the Thanksgiving assembly.
Lucy Beattie said she had no idea about her sister’s plans to nominate her for the award, but she knows it brought their relationship closer. Additionally, she said the award has the same potential impact for other people at RBHS.
“[The award] shows gratitude in a way that can’t go over your head,” Lucy Beattie said. “Any other way can lead you to think they are exaggerating or don’t really mean it, but the award really lets you see their gratitude for what it is.”
After gifting the award, Lily Beattie encourages other students to make the decision to submit an application because it’s important to honor those who make a positive difference at RBHS.
“The [Bruin of my Life] award allowed [Lucy] to recognize my appreciation for her,” Lily Beattie said. “She is now more aware of my respect for her as a whole than ever before. I recommend the award to anybody because it helps shine a light on the people who really matter to you.”
Do you intend to nominate someone?