To begin, I would like to thank everyone in room 139 for making fifth hour my favorite class of the day. I am so happy I have the opportunity to write with all of you. 

To Sophia Haughey, for being my very best friend for seven years 

My BFF since elementary school, I am beyond grateful for our friendship. Growing up with you continues to be one of the greatest privileges I have ever had. Thank you for sitting through driver’s training with me every day while I constantly stole your water. For recording stupid iMovie productions with me when we were in elementary school, and for creating that one extremely long handshake to the song “Here With Me” by Marshmello (that I still partly remember). For getting me a neon llama in adopt me for my twelfth birthday. Thank you for all the times we spent at your house playing Mario Kart and for all the times we spent at mine playing either Just Dance or Disneyland Adventures. For our sixth and seventh-grade Halloween costumes which I wish I could forget because of how horrendous they were. For helping me make a time capsule back in 2018 that is probably full of old candy wrappers and Polaroids that we will look back on and cringe. For attempting to renovate our mansion in Minecraft but then burning it down halfway through because it got too boring. For spending 8 hours with me making a chalk mural on the sidewalk only for it to rain a day later. For our Fuller House phase during the pandemic that I try my hardest to block out of my memory, and for all the practices we (thankfully) made it through last year at soccer. For our bike rides down the beach at Hilton Head, our Quiplash rounds at midnight, and our photo roulette during driver’s training. For the choir concerts that we giggled through in the back of the auditorium, and for listening to my problems and attempting to convince me to either block that one person or marry them (it really depends on the day). Thank you for co-authoring those unfortunate fantasy books that we made on Google Docs when we were in Mr. Greer’s class and for all the times we glanced at each other from across the room and knew exactly what the other was thinking about. Maybe one day I’ll try that 8-dollar Starbucks refresher that you swear by, and I promise I will carry your backpack through the halls if you ever end up on crutches like I did.

I know I say it all the time, but I still cannot believe we are in high school together, because it feels like just yesterday we were 8 years old and going into third grade together. I hope we never grow apart because I truly don’t think there is anyone who would be able to replace you. Thank you for being my day one and my best friend forever. Love ya, Soph.

To my parents, for being my number one supporters and for putting up with me

If any people have truly been there for me since day one, it is you two, and I am so grateful for all that you have done for me and our family. From driving me across the state for hockey and soccer to putting a roof over my head and food on my plate, having such caring parents is a privilege I am so thankful for. Thank you for our quarantine Settlers of Catan game nights that were always so fun (even though I didn’t win even once), for our Christmastime traditions that I always look forward to, and for all the times you would take me to the neighbor’s ice rink to go skating in freezing weather. To Dad, I am so grateful to have you not only as an incredible coach, but an even better father. And to Mom, your empathy, patience, and compassion will always be something I am amazed by. I know I may not always say it, but I am so proud to be your daughter.

To Leah Holser, for being my best friend and for giving me great advice 

I can’t believe we didn’t know each other until last year, because it feels like we’ve been best friends forever. Meeting you has ended up becoming one of the greatest rewards I have received. Thank you for listening to SOS by SZA with me during our first semester of 8th-grade history class and for gaslighting little kids on Roblox with me when I’m bored. For giving me new songs to add to my playlists and for accompanying me to all the soccer games and football games.

Thank you for being my cripple buddy and elevator friend when we were both on crutches and thank you for taking me to Grand Haven this summer even though we both got sunburned. For giving me entertaining hauls whenever I see you and for keeping me up to date with all that’s going on in your life. I am so grateful that I have you in my life and I have no idea what I would do without you. You are always there for me to give your words of wisdom and encouragement when I desperately need someone to talk to, and you are so immensely thoughtful and kind. I am so happy we found each other.

To Kason Schneider, for checking up on me 

I am so glad we met last year. Your discreet caring for others and the reminders that everything is going to be fine, while they might seem insignificant, repeatedly remind me of how big your heart is. You are such an incredibly kind person, and anyone would be beyond lucky to have you there for them. There are very few people who would go out of their way to ensure someone is okay in the way that you do. You have so much compassion and empathy for others that some could only dream of. Thank you for being such a selfless person, a great advice-giver, and an amazing friend. 

To Ulrich Dongmo, for always being there to talk to 

Although I’m sure our biology teacher is sick of us whispering during class, I am so happy that I have you to talk to not only during first hour but whenever I need it. I am so thankful for all the incredible advice you give me that I refuse to follow. Thank you for our weekly swap of biology answers and for giving me good questions to ask during TCT profile interviews even though you don’t take the class. Thank you for walking with me in the halls when I’m bored, and for listening to me when I need it. I’m so glad that we sometimes get to sit next to each other in biology because that class would be so painfully boring without our conversations. 

To my hockey team, for being some of the most driven people I know 

I have found a second home at Fox Motors Hockey Club, and the primary reason is because of the wonderful, dedicated group of girls that I have had the privilege of playing with since 2021. You constantly push me to be the best I can be both on and off the ice, and every day ended with you guys at practice is a day well spent. Most especially to the “Original 7” of us: Addie, Avery, Anya, Megan, Vivian, and Zariya. I found some of my best friends in you guys, and I’m so excited for the upcoming season and all the years that are to come. Go Fox! 

To Abby Blok, for being the best listener ever 

When I need someone to listen to my long rants and never-ending vent sessions, I am so thankful that I have you to talk to. Without you, I’m pretty sure I would go crazy from boredom. Watching you go on your daily six-mile run while I drove tentatively in the jungle driver’s training car was a memory I’ll always cherish and I have you to credit for making French and honors English a lot more bearable. Thank you for our illicit glances at our homecoming after-party. Even though we trashed your basement with soda cans, broke at least one ping-pong paddle, and had a pretty close emergency room visit, I had so much fun with you and I am so lucky to be able to have you here to make more memories with every day. Thank you for letting me drink out of your orange Stanley during fourth hour when I forget to bring water (which is every day), and for informing me when our favorite senior is walking the halls near us. You are an incredible listener and a great shoulder to lean on, and I am so glad that we have become friends this year.

And a quick thank you to Kendall Alexander for saving my science grades these past two years, Ryan Webb for making me laugh,  Micah McClarty and Addie McDowell for being my fellow WFP freshman, Ella Haughey for never failing to entertain me, and Paul Kim for always dapping me up in the hallways.