Dear Best Friend... Love, Isabel
Dear Kayla,
It’s funny how you sometimes don’t realize just how much of an impact a person is going to have on you when you first meet them. This statement couldn’t hold more true for our friendship.
I remember meeting you in the summer of 2019 when I came to Tech for FASET. Although we only hung out for one night, the thing that still stands out to me today from that meeting is how kind you were. There have been a small handful of times in my life when I’ve met someone and could instantly tell that they were genuine, loyal people; my first meeting with you was without a doubt one of those. By chance I ended up living across the hall from you in Hopkins at the beginning of our freshman year. I can’t express how thankful I am for that. My first few weeks at college were a rough adjustment—I struggled with being away from home and making new friends. You were kind to me when you didn’t have to be. You invited me to hang out with you and introduced me to your friends. You are the reason I’m an Alpha Xi Delta.
After I joined Alpha Xi, our friendship only grew stronger. We ate meals at the house, studied at the library, went to parties, walked to Piedmont Park, and spent so much time with each other. Just being around you can turn one of my worst days into one of the best. You’ve shown me what it means to be a true friend to someone. You never fail to make me feel included; you have my back no matter the situation; and you always make an effort to check in on me if I’m struggling with something. But the impact you’ve had on me goes beyond the way you’ve treated me as a friend. I’ve seen you handle challenging situations with grace, work tremendously hard to reach the things you want to achieve, and bring joy to others without expecting anything in return. You’re one of the best people I know, and my life is abundantly better with you in it.
It’s rare for me to meet someone who I feel completely comfortable talking about literally anything with, but I’ve found that in you. Not once have you ever made me feel judged or inferior. You ask me about things in my life that you know are important to me and listen with genuine interest. You encourage me to push myself, while reminding me that I don’t need to change who I am for anyone. You’ve taught me to be more intentional, honest, dedicated, and courageous through the way I’ve seen you carry yourself. Your friendship over the past few years has been one of the highlights of my time at Tech, and I truly would not be who I am today if I didn’t know you. I can’t wait to make more memories together, and I couldn’t ask for a better person to share them with.