Mihika: for being my best friend hundreds of miles away,

I have no words to describe how much I really miss you. If it wasn’t apparent by my streams of text messages filling the screen before you’d even woken up, being your best friend was my favorite part of middle school. You’re energetic and so happy constantly. Your bubbly personality is my favorite thing about you, and I cannot wait until I see you in a month. Like I truly can’t. You’re gorgeous and the smartest person I know, and I never realized how much I truly needed to be around your personality until the first day I lived in Michigan, when I ended up sobbing on my bed. I’m so proud of you and you have made my life so much better. You will forever be one of my favorite people on Earth. Thank you for being in my life.

My friends from Blach: for all our memories,

Kyla, you light up everyone’s world with your smile and are the reason I got through Geometry. You have the most infectious personality that no one can ever get enough of. From that first day in eighth grade when I timidly asked if you wanted to work on homework together to spending every day in Ms. Hamson’s room together laughing, I always knew you had a beautiful heart. You’re hysterical and unique and smart and I miss you every day. I cannot believe I ever got the honor to call you my friend and you were the best math partner I’ve ever had and ever will have. Ellie, our friendship over the last year has been so incredibly fun, and to think we couldn’t stand each other just 6 years ago. You’re hilarious and one of the most loyal people I know. When you came to Michigan for a week this summer, I loved spending time with you, and our late-night talks were the best. I miss you so much and some of the best memories I had with you were walking your dog to the park and just talking back and forth. I can’t wait until I can see you again. Sid, I miss you so much and making a business with you in middle school was so fun (our cake pops were delicious most of the time). We need to have a reunion in Lake Tahoe and your happy personality will always stay with me. Agam, you are so sweet, and walking with you and Ellie was so fun last year. You’re so pretty and funny and I miss seeing you every brunch. I can’t wait to see you soon! Emalyn, thank you for being my forever biking partner, and you made the freezing cold mornings somewhat more bearable. I miss you tons. To everyone else, thank you for making my middle school experience everything that it was. I wouldn’t change a thing. I miss you all more than you know.

Lulu: for being the best Tinkerbell/Tiana/green bean ever,

Lulu, you are one of the funniest people I’ve met. You make every room brighter with your energy, and it has been such a fun experience to get to know you and your personality this year. You’re there to talk about anything and I know that I can always count on you. Thank you for lifting everyone up; your infectious enthusiasm improves any day. I can’t wait until you join fourth-hour biology next semester. It’s been so amazing to become closer to you this year and I’m so glad we’re friends, I don’t know what I would do without you. 

Mia: for being my forever warm-up partner,

Mia, you were the first person I met when I  moved here, and I immediately knew I needed to be your friend. You’re considerate and an amazing athlete. It has been so incredible to get to know you over the last few months, and I truly could not have asked for a better friend to spend the volleyball and basketball seasons with. Thank you for always listening to me rant about our sports and assuring me it will be alright, not to mention walking me to more than half of my classes. There are no words to adequately show you how grateful I am to know you now, and I hope our friendship will continue for years and years to come. You’re a truly incredible person, and I am so thankful for you.

Natalie: for having the best laugh,

Natalie, it has been so much fun to get to know you more since school started, and your advice is unparalleled. You’re also truly hilarious. I’m so sad that we don’t have any classes together this year, and I hope we can only grow closer. Thank you for becoming friends with me throughout the school year so far. Having lunch with you, Lulu, and Eden has been so much fun. I know you’re always there to listen and laugh, and I’ve loved going to football games with you. It’s been amazing to become your friend, and I’m so thankful for you. Not to mention, you have the best style ever, and I want to steal your closet. I am so grateful for you, and I can’t wait to become closer.

Eden: for always being there to talk,

I’m so thankful to have you in my life. Thank you for being the kind of friend who is always there for you, no matter what. You’re funny and sweet and I always look forward to our daily walks up the stairs to fourth hour, knowing that we’re both dreading biology equally. You always understood how nervous I was about basketball tryouts, and thank you for agreeing with me. I loved hyping each other up throughout all of tryouts, and I’m so happy that we both get to play together this year. I can’t wait to get to know you even more as this year continues, and thank you for being such a great friend so far.

Gabbi: for being the kindest person ever and my forever best friend on Snapchat,

You’re one of the sweetest friends I have, and I could spend hours just walking and talking with you. You’re smart and kind and your smile is so contagious. Your presence is incredibly comforting, and I always love being around you. I love spending time with you and am so eternally grateful for how close we have become this year. You’re so caring, and the friendship you have with Parker never fails to make me smile. I know that we can talk about anything together, and you are so supportive. You’re the first person I text when anything happens, and I am so honored to call you one of my closest friends. Thank you so much for all of the love and memories you have given me this year; I honestly will never forget them. Not only are you the best pickleball partner ever, but I’ll never get tired of dying laughing with you as we send too-long videos back and forth.

The Central Trend Staff: for being the reason fifth hour is my favorite class,

Addie, you make TCT the best. I’m so happy we have three classes together this year, and I know that I can always count on you to agree that we don’t need to study anymore for sixth-hour Spanish. It was so fun to spend our college field trip together and I love talking with you. Kylin, you are so funny and sweet and I don’t know what I’m going to do next semester when I don’t have you in my classes. Thank you for always being there to smile at everyone and to stop at my seat every day in English to talk before the bell rings. Sophia, thank you so much for always editing my stories, no matter what. I might complain about your comments occasionally, but you truly make all of my stories better and catch issues I never would have seen. Alex, Rowan, and Ella, thank you for being the best editors-in-chief, and I love the questions of the day. The energy and effort that you put into making this the best elective ever is so appreciated. Mr. George, thank you so much for the teacher that you are. I love both classes I have with you, and it’s so evident how much you care about all of your students: thank you for taking an interest in each one of our unique personalities. The rest of The Central Trend staff, thank you so much for making this class special, and I always look forward to fifth hour. 

Mom: for being my best friend for life,

Mom, I love you so much. You are the person I can go to about everything, and I know you’ll listen without judgment. You are my rock in life, and I am so proud of all you have accomplished and all you do for me and Jamie. You have the best heart, and if I could become half the person you are, I would feel so accomplished. From homecoming dress shopping to long drives for softball tournaments to Cabo, I have so many favorite memories with you that will stay with me forever. I know that our relationship will always be strong, and I can’t wait to add to the memories I already have with you as the years continue. I love you to the moon and back for the rest of my life.

Dad: for always supporting me,

It is truly superhuman to me, the sheer amount that you do for us, and I know I don’t show my appreciation enough. You have encouraged me in everything I do, from school to all of my sports teams. You’ve been the best softball coach I’ve ever had, and I still have so much to learn from you. Somehow, you balance all aspects of life, and it will forever be unbelievable to me. I know I can trust you with anything, and you are truly the best dad ever. I love every moment we spend together, and the advice you give me is always appreciated. Thank you for supporting me, and I love you forever and always.

Jamie: for being the best sister I could ask for,

Jamie, you are seriously the most empathetic person I’ve ever met; your compassion and respect for others is a standard that I hope to one day reach. You’re astoundingly talented in so many different aspects of life, from academics to softball to making new friends, and I truly cannot wait for the day we’ll be on the same softball team for FHC. I hope that moving across the country will only bring us closer together. I am so proud of all that you have accomplished, and you’ve become an incredible person. I love you so much, my sister, for life.

Calvin: for your boundless energy,

I know you will always fill the room with your energy and I’ve loved spending more time with you recently. Your cheers at volleyball games brought smiles to the entire team’s faces, and thank you so much for each time you came to support us. I cannot wait to see how much you grow over the next few years, and I’ve loved to see how much you’ve already grown. 

Aunt Brittany: for being the sole reason I made the volleyball team (and countless other things),

I’m not kidding: your volleyball help has been so incredible this season. If you couldn’t tell by the way my face lit up each time I spotted you in the stands, your continuous support throughout the season meant the world to me. You were so helpful in more ways than one, not only in volleyball but in life. Our shopping trips are some of my favorite memories with you, and I value your advice so much. Thank you for always being there for me, and I’m so happy that we live a 60-second drive away from each other.

Uncle Danny: for being the best basketball coach,

I have loved living closer to you and your whole family these last few months. Playing basketball with you has created some of my favorite memories of the sport, and I know that I can always count on you to help me. Thank you for everything, and for being the first person to help me drive, even as my hands shook and I continuously slammed on the brakes. You are supportive and encouraging, and I cannot wait for the day I will finally be able to beat you in HORSE. 

Parker: for forever being my other half,

Parker. I truly have too much to write for you, and I never know how I’ll express the love I feel for you. Being your cousin is one of my favorite things in life and you are truly an incredible person already. I love your contagious smile, sweet personality, adorable face, and giddy excitement. The bond I have with you is special and is one I cherish every day. You light up my life, and not a day goes by where I wouldn’t want to spend time with you. I love you forever.