Dear Katelynn, 

It wasn’t until my sophomore year of high school that I realized that there were such kind people in this world, and I never realized the true gravity that friendships held until I met you. I had just come out of a year of virtual learning, so it would be an understatement to say that the timing of when I met you couldn’t have been more perfect. 

I’m going to be honest, the first memory of us meeting doesn’t stand out vividly. A year ago, I used to think of you as the artistic, mysterious girl who would sit in the corner of her room along with Lucas Thompson just pounding away at such emotional and breathtaking stories. 

But now, I think of you as the kind upperclassman who’s willing to help anyone—in any circumstance—no matter how close your relationship with them is. I still remember the first semester of sophomore year when Marissa Lunt would ask if anyone had a spare Algebra two textbook. 

Every time she would ask, I would always offer to give it despite how heavy they were because I knew that that book would better be served for someone else. Despite how corny it sounds, offering you that book as well and being able to share it with you while we’d do our homework together was something that brought me joy, even though we both disliked Algebra two in general. 

It’s so ironic how something we both disliked brought us closer together as friends, and I sometimes think about how things would be different if I hadn’t tested out of Algebra one before freshman year. But looking back, I am so glad that I made the right choice because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be as close to you as I am now. 

I know I’ve only known you for a year but I feel like there are so many aspects of our lives that we can relate to on a level that others can’t; it is what I think makes our friendship so special. 

To be completely open with you, I’ve never actually been friends with upperclassmen, simply because I thought that it was uncool to be friends with upperclassmen, but when I’m around you and Lauren for the first time in my life, I don’t feel judged around you. I have the space to decompress and be myself to the fullest—something I haven’t felt in a long time. 

Your family is so lucky to have you as a person, and I’m even luckier to have you as a friend because no amount of words, text messages, hugs, or gestures will ever show my appreciation for everything that you have done for me within the past year of my life. 

Seeing you dancing with your friends during the 6th hour and having such an energetic aura upon entering room 139 is something that makes me happy. At the end of the day, what brings me the most joy in life is the people I know making me laugh and content with the current stage in my life. That is exactly how you make me feel every day: loved and appreciated for being unequivocally me. 

Although it makes me cry at the thought of you being a freshman in college next year, I know that no matter where you are on earth, our friendship will stretch over any distance because friendship is a bond that’s too strong to break. 

Sincerely,  

Arpita