Though the cliché of opposites attract is overrated for most, but for me? It was the most amazing thing that happened to me in my life. That’s where Nellie comes in like literally, in the year of 2014 being in Pre-K at St. Genevieve. It was just a quick blur of the usual first day of school, kids stare weirdly at you, wanting to go back home, just absolutely despising the school experience. Growing up I had no friends in the beginning, but what I meant was having a friend that would stick around. Someone to hangout with, to spend lunch time with. I even asked other kids like me if they wanted to be my friends, but the stretch was clear to me that no one was willing to be my friend. Until I obviously met Nellie. If you wanted the sun incarnate then here you had it, she was very smiley and talkative. I, having experienced rejection many times, made me conflicted, but the warmth she filled in my chest was undeniable.
From those years on, it wasn’t till fourth grade where we actually gave each other the title of “best friend”. It felt nice having a best friend, like a bond you forge deeply that felt that could never be broken once you made it. Nellie was sweet, kind even, she would play with the other kids too and never tired easily, she participated in everything, she made lots of friends, but most importantly? She never made me feel forgotten. Despite all of the things she did that kept her busy we never had the fear of parting or separating, instead of dismissing me from things I hated or was unsure about doing at the time she went with me to try them out together because that’s what being best friends meant to us–doing everything together because if we do it together nothing would ever defeat us. Even now in 2026 now going into high school. Though we both were busy in our own lives, not communicating much, we would occasionally text each other once in a while and go back as if nothing had changed, that no matter the distance and time we will always be best friends. She’s the one who gave me confidence to go on our school’s volleyball team. This opened my eyes into having confidence in doing what I wanted to do, that there is no need for fear or second guessing. She made me go for the things I truly love because she did too for herself without fear or doubt.
Though we live an hour apart, the memories I have with her are as fresh as yesterday. I know everything about her, forgetting one thing about her breaks me internally because if there’s one important person you don’t want to lose is your best friend. The way she looks at people makes me think at times that I genuinely don’t deserve her as a true friend, the understanding, her patience, her soft such assuring words. It makes you feel like you’re inconsistent, almost a complete opposite, but she doesn’t mind. She doesn’t mind that I don’t call her all the time or if I don’t text frequently. Life turns things around, but it always seems Nellie never did. I wanted to engrave that people like Nellie are very rare in the world, meaning you should love those people forever because they will never judge you, ridicule you or hurt you. Do not treat that person with very little just because they give so much, I’m not saying at all that you should not keep in touch with your friends to see how loyal they are, no because no one is perfect, but what I’m conveying is that you should appreciate the things people do for you even if it’s people like Nellie who have unconditional love and support for you before they drift away.
Analiese Soriano – Trinity High School – DMSF Class of 2030
Photo Credit: Angel Soriano