Leah (Top right)- I first met Leah in the ninth grade. I thought she was so cool. We had a rocky beginning but now I cannot imagine how I would survive without her. She knows me better than I know myself. The piece of hair she gifted me features a strand of hot pink hair tinsel. I collected hers and Ella's the night before we went roller skating for Ella’s 21st birthday. They are staples in my life, people who have seen me at my worst and still see the best in me always. I've written her countless love letters, she is my muse; my driving force to lead with love. She has let me put my walls down and allow myself to be soft and vulnerable without fear. She makes me want to be better. Encouraging my passions and believing in me when even I can't. 

Tasha (top middle)- I met her last semester along with Frankie, she is such a smart person and I love listening to her speak about her passions and her ideas because they are often so different from my own. We are both sensitive people who feel things very deeply so it is really nice to have a friend who is on the same level as I am. We can be emotional wrecks together. 

Emma (Top Left) - I met Emma this semester as well, in this very class. She’s one of the coolest people ever and I am sad I didn’t meet her earlier in life as we are so similar. It felt like there has been a mutual understanding since the moment we spoke to each other, we are on the same page about nearly everything and after spending a very wild Saint Patricks day together our friendship has been cemented. Seeing each other in such a disastrous state so early on into our relationship sealed the deal for a long and fruitful friendship, there is nowhere to go but up. She is kind and understanding and so beautiful. She cares deeply about the world around her and is not afraid of expressing her interests and being passionate, a trait that we need more of in the world. She even helped me pick out the frame that I used for the piece. 
 

Ella (Bottom left) - I've known Ella for over half my life. I don’t remember life before her. We met in the third grade. She is one of the strongest people I know, she has experienced stuff that no one should be subjected to, let alone when they are so young. But she survived and learned how to thrive. She is so intelligent, she’s incredibly witty and a true ride or die. She is a giver, always creating art. A true active listener she remembers facts about me that even I don’t recall. Holly (bottom middle)- I met Holly this semester, she is an exchange student from Scotland. She’s hilarious and I’m dreading the day she leaves but I truly believe that life will bring us back together. She has an awesome tattoo of a fish smoking a joint so you know she’s cool. 

Frankie (Bottom right) - I met her last semester and we quickly became friends, she has such a welcoming energy that has an instant calming effect when you’re in her radius. She is always kind and understanding, encouraging through small smiles and glances that ensure you don't feel excluded. She is going on exchange to Ireland next year for both semesters and as happy as I am for her, I am very disappointed we won't get to hangout or go to the movies. 

I will end this off by saying that Last year was incredibly hard for me, I had to drop out of second year due to extreme health problems and it was awful. I was in near constant pain and it felt like everyone was moving on while I was stuck in my childhood bedroom sick. But Ella and Leah stuck with me through it all, they took care of me and visited me in the hospital. They learned about my diagnosis so they could better understand how to help. I met all these amazing people this year because I had to restart year two. I felt like I was doomed but now I know I was actually blessed. I’ve made so many amazing friends and connections that wouldn’t have been possible so maybe this was fate, but either way it showed me that oftentimes life has a funny way of sorting itself out. I have such a deeper appreciation for life and the people around me because of my suffering and I think that experience was part of the reason I wanted to create this project. To express my gratitude and love while I’m here because you never know what tomorrow can bring.