A Thank You Two Years in the Making
The Center for Continuing Education received a unique gift this summer from Gabriel Valentine ’10: a Guilford quilt.
Gabriel, who was an adult student and peer mentor at the College, worked on the quilt for the past two years. He is pursuing graduate study in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Southern Maine – Gorham and plans to work with those who have experienced trauma after he graduates in 2014.
A swatch sewn into the quilt reads, “This is a token of my appreciation for the guidance and support I received from CCE. The people at CCE are part of the many special people who make the Guilford Experience so meaningful and memorable. Thank you for all of the things that you do to make dreams come true. – Gabriel Valentine ’10″
The quilt will be displayed in the adult student lounge in Hendricks Hall.
Gabriel answered several questions about the gift via email:
Q: What inspired you to make a quilt for Guilford?
A: People on every level of service at Guilford College contribute so very much to making a memorable experience for all who become a member of the campus community.
Guilford was the perfect place to culminate my undergraduate degree in psychology. My academic achievement took 29 years to complete, but it was the spiritual and emotional journey that I celebrated upon graduating in 2010.
Over the years, there were many people that nudged me further along my path, and the people in CCE were instrumental. So, I wanted to give something that reflects the power of embracing our path, and trusting the process that unfolds as we navigate our way through life.
Q: How long have you been making quilts?
A: I made my first quilt in 2002. My mother made quilts for my sisters, and began making a quilt for me, but passed away before completing mine.
A couple of years after she passed away I received the pieces. I kept them in a small box for 10 years before I started working on them. I knew how to use a sewing machine, so I taught myself to make quilts.
When I started working on the quilt my mother had started for me, a lot of tears flowed. Since then, quilting has been a very moving experience for me.
The Mariner’s Compass pattern is my favorite because the precision required to make straight lines is very meditative. The pattern also reflects the inner compass inside us that we use to guide us on our journey.
