Throw back to Third Grade.
It was a sunny September morning in 2004 when I waltz into my new classroom for the year. 28 familiar faces surrounded me with smiles. Between the hugs and "Did you get the new Tomagachi?", I was caught up in the moment of catching up with different people to notice the two new faces sitting quietly at their assigned desks.
The morning bell buzzed ten minutes before eight, and we rushed to our seats. Our new teacher introduced herself quickly before the morning prayers and announcements began. After the principal was done with her morning routine, the teacher began to go through the rules, consequences for breaking them, and rewards for following them. It was when she was done, that my ears perked up and my eyes turned to the two new kids in the class: Paige and Catherine.
Our third grade teacher called my name, I looked at her with eyes bigger than a Bratz doll when she told me that I would be assigned to Catherine, the new girl. Showing her around the school and making sure she had a friend to talk to were two big responsibilities that I definitely did not want.
What could a little seven year old do? Say no to her new teacher? How can you say no to helping someone out while attending a Catholic school?
I went with it and trust me, it was the best thing I ever had to do. Catherine, or Katie as I learned her nickname was, was a sweet, shy, innocent peer. She had the longest dark brown hair and loved Hello Kitty too! We sat together almost every day during snack and lunch. On the days she missed school, I noticed I was missing a friend.
For years and years we stood in line together, sat in class next to one another when we had the chance, and would always pick each other as our partners. Grade and middle school were the best years because we had each other.
During our 8th grade graduation, I would turn around and see my best friend and second family behind me. Realizing that I would not have her tired face in my classes for the next four years had me feeling lost again, the same way I felt sitting at lunch without her
Katie turned out to be one of my best friends growing up. From a third grader that was so shy to say her name, to a young woman in college who still makes time to listen to my problems and complaints, all while making time to make yearly carnival dates with me a must.
Point being, everyone has their own Katie, their own friendship story. Do not miss an opportunity to greet a person into you life, because you'll never know whether or not they are there to stay forever.
