As my sophomore year is coming to an end, and I’m reminiscing on my past two years, I’m thinking about all the things that made my past two years so joyful. The joy of winning one year of Red and Gold, while losing another, dances, rallies, the ever-occurring essays that seem due every week, etc. As I’m thinking, I realize that what made these moments so memorable are the people I shared them with. 

Throughout every good and bad moment of my sophomore and freshman year, my friends have been around me. My better and more recent friends that I made my sophomore year have shown and taught me a lot about what true friends are.

Harper Clark ‘26 has taught me so much about every aspect of music and the worlds in the industry you wouldn’t know existed, she has been my study partner through every hard assignment, and she has shown me every product under the sun. Harper has shown how powerful it is to have a friend to stick by you no matter what.

Next, Kristin Ruiz ‘26 has shown me what a good laugh can cure. She has brought out the light in the dark days and been the honest friend that you truly need. Throughout all of my hard moments, Kristin has given me advice and a good listening ear that I much deserved.

Lastly, Addison Gutierrez ‘26 has and will forever show me how important it is to have a friend break even the thickest tension. She has shown me her talent of making someone feel better when they feel at their lowest and is the only person who will keep me entertained no matter what. Addi has shown me how great the gift of having my back and loyalty is in a friendship. 

My three best friends are something in the world that I would never trade or give up, so as I’m embarking on my junior year adventure, I can’t wait to see what we do together. 

I don’t know what I would do without these three girls, or what my high school experience would be like. I know that friends come and go – that’s part of the experience growing up, but I sure hope that these three girls stay in my life for a very, very long time.