TCT’s The Countless Thanks: Saniya Mishra

Ellory, Ashley, and Lucy – for being such supportive mangoes

It seems like just yesterday we were in Mrs. Hall’s class gluing googly eyes onto Jefferson and taking over the room with Weville and over 100 of his cousins while also blasting the Draco Puppet song from our Chromebooks. Earlier in the year, we really were just waiting to be friends and finally got a reason to do so with that first group project. People say things don’t happen overnight, but, honestly, the four of us being friends really began from that moment when we decided to work together. I’m so grateful for that; I always have so much fun with whatever crazy thing we’re doing, from the many Wevilles to the many paper airplanes to the many tissue-bows. You all are so nice, so brilliant, and so funny. Thank you for being such fun and amazing mangoes that I can always count on.

Jiya – for being my bus-buddy

I know we haven’t had classes with each other for a while, but I still remember when we sat next to each other every day on the bus in 6th grade. I loved talking to you; it was so much fun gossiping about how all our friends had “bottle caps.” And, of course, despite our bickering around it, the keychain wars are something that’ll never fail to bring a smile to my face. Even now, when we talk in the hallways, walking towards two different buses at the end of the day, I remember that you’re always there as a friend, even when we don’t see each other as often, so thank you.

Mahta – for being my first friend here

When I moved to Michigan that summer after 2nd grade, I missed all of my friends and was hopelessly trying to make new ones, but I didn’t have to worry about that for long. You came up to me, introduced yourself, and told me you wanted me to feel welcome. You introduced me to all your friends, and soon after, we became really close. I was pleasantly surprised that such a nice, funny, cool girl wanted to be my friend. We joined O.M. together but really spent all the practices talking and laughing. Then, when we both moved again and a year passed, it was like we never had stopped seeing each other. Now, we finally have one class together for the first time since 5th grade, and even though we’ve got other friends now and don’t talk to each other much, it’s nice to know that you’re still there if I need a friend. So, thank you for being so kind and fun; really, thank you for being you.

Eva, Grace, Squid, Alex, Emma, and Penny – for getting me out of my shell when no one else could

Thank you for goofing around with me every Sunday. The insane things we do maintain my sanity. I don’t know what I’d do without you all. Eva, thank you for being so funny and sarcastic, always having some even more ridiculous pun to top mine and for editing all the stories I send you, no matter how late or long. Grace, thank you for being our team mom and mostly just doing “jump two threes” and Bob-Rossing with me. Thank you, Squid, for your amazing—and hilarious—accents and for bringing the “demon child” into my life. And Alex, for wearing your toga like a diaper (it always cracked me up) and being the best “lady in a can” this world has ever seen. Thank you, Emma, for having a ridiculously bendy back and making me laugh with the hula-hoop thing many months ago. And last but not least, Penny, you’re always so much fun to be around, and I’m so glad you ran with me at cross country even though we both know you’re much faster than me. 

Thank you, all of you. I’m so happy to have stuck with such an amazing team. When I first joined, we didn’t really know each other, but now, to say I know you guys would be an understatement. Even with every heated debate, we always bounce back as friends with some “Ba-Ha Blast” of sorts. I would not carrot-all if I got to spend time with you guys every day. But really, there are so many things I could thank you all for. The fun (and the number of inside jokes) we have is inestimable, and you guys have had such a huge impact on me. When I joined the team in fifth grade, I was the kid who would almost never talk. You would never see me raise my hand in class because why would I volunteer to say something to a whole class of people with only me talking? I probably had stage fright, too. I was a closed book with a lock on it, and the key was locked inside. But at every meeting, you guys opened me up little by little. I seriously wouldn’t be as talkative or outgoing—which is still a major work in progress—as I am today if it weren’t for you all. Everything we did together—talk, laugh, scream, sing, dance, and even perform—got me that much more comfortable doing it the next time. I know this year again that I’m still going to be that person you remind to speak up while performing, but I’m thankful that somehow my reserved, anti-social self found it worth it to keep trying because you’re all so fun and supportive. Thank you for always being there even when I was about as social as a lifeless rock. Thank you for making my days so colorful and happy. Thank you for making me who I am today. Thank you for everything.