For Kate Smithson, July 1944-2024
July 7, 1944 — April 6, 2024 July 7, 1944 — April 6, 2024 To celebrate Kate's wonderful and caring life, I have been reflecting on all she brought to our world. KT (Katee), as I affectionately called her, was very well suited for her job as a school guidance/college counselor. She was one of the rare people who knew the right questions to ask a struggling student, an upset colleague, or an angry parent. Kates' questions could gently probe, get to the root of the problem, and develop creative solutions out of a hat, much like a magician. KT's ability to deal with the most delicate situations truly amazed me. I remember when a girl had slipped off campus to meet a former student, an expat, for lunch, and her father found out, along with the newly available video chats with an unknown boy. He beat her black and blue and pulled her out of school. But she was a senior, and graduation was just around the corner. We know Emirati men are not accustomed to being challenged by a woma