To All the Friends I’ve Loved Before

By Gyana Guity

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This is a piece dedicated to thanking my friends for changing my life and making me a better person. They have taught me how to be bold and brave.

Junior year has been a wild mess. There have been many nights where I thought about everything I’ve experienced, everyone I’ve met. And there have been even more times where I didn’t know if the best thing to do was laugh or cry. My mind, even after so many years, is still something I can’t quite comprehend. I’ve trusted myself to make the best decisions for every single situation, but never understood why my friends and family labeled me as a bold and confident girl. I was the girl who was fearless and crazy, capable of doing anything and everything she wanted. I al-
ways had the loudest laugh, the deranged ideas, and a huge smile on my face as I lead everyone around me to paradise and fun: a Broadway show where I was the main star.

But behind that, there was another side of me that didn’t understand the slightest idea about being bold and proud. She was afraid of the world and everything in it, and all the time, she wanted to hide. The Gyana I let people see is real, believe me, that girl isn’t an illusion, a fake. But the reason why she exists, and manages to stand tall and live boldly in front of everyone she loves, is because of all of her friends, her family, and all of the love they surround her with. I never know how to thank them, how to explain to them how grateful I am to have them, so I thought that by writing this, they could see.

Lizbeth, thank you for all of the long and fun nights you’ve spent with me. You have been the person I have always gone to when I needed comfort, and even though we can both be awkward when one of us is down or upset, we still always find a wa to cheer up the other. Thank you for always answering the phone even when you’re busy and being patient with me when all I can do is cry on the other end of the phone. Thank you for all of the BTS memes you sent to make me burst out laughing and smile, and lastly, thank you so much for introducing me to KPOP. Marielisa, I am so glad we were able to meet and grow close. I love being a goofball around you and making you laugh with my weird and random jokes. Thank you for the advice you give mewhen I feel lost, even when I sometimes choose not to listen sometimes. Abena, thank you for bearing with me. I always felt like you have been able to handle me best when I’m feeling moody, and you never listen to me when I tell you to leave me alone. Deep down, somewhere inside, we both know that I never want to be left alone, but I am just too stubborn to say it. Thank you for constantly reminding me that you were going to be there for me at all times and showing me the true definition of friendship. Yadyvic and Amanda, you don’t know how great it feels to be close with you. Talking with other people who are just as passionate about writing as I am. I go to you both whenever I’m stuck with my writing and need help with ideas or simply expressing my thoughts. You two are really supportive
when it comes to my writing, and you don’t know how relieved I feel to hear other people, especially my friends, enjoying my writing. There have been countless times where I hated the way I wrote and debated if it was even worth being a writer. But you both keep me going. I can’t thank you enough. Jadah, you are literally one of the most precious human beings in the world. It warms my heart when you see me every morning and scream my name and run to hug me. You mean the world and more to me, and I’m so glad we’re friends again. I didn’t know I would hate it so much to suddenly stop talking to you during sophomore year because our classes were switched, but it feels so good to have you back.

I love all of you so much, and don’t know what my life would be like without you all. If you thought I forgot about you, thinkagain. Tonya, Jennifer, and Hanna. Chiara, Ariana, and Tiana,thank you so much for also being in my life. I always wish I could
pull you all in a tight hug and tell you how much I love you, and one day I hope I do, each and every last one of you. All of you guys, my lovely friends and family, you are the reason why I am the Gyana you all talk with and love today. There’s no me without all of you, and I want to keep you all in my life forever. You have each helped me when I was at my lowest and appreciated me for who I was. To everyone here, thank you. I love you.