Jamison has been my best friend for a long time. As long as I can remember I have always felt a connection with Jamo I haven't felt with anyone else. We've laughed together, we've cried together, we have endured pain together, and now we triumph together. You're one of my inner child's favorite people. The kid in me loves when we get together and confuse everyone with our humor and personalities that go together so well. I love you forever Jam.

Honestly, Jake and I grew up struggling to get along. Two middle brothers budding heads, whadda yunno? However, the older we got, the more we processed our upbringing, God has brought us to a place of deep and close friendship. Because of Jake I have learned that love isn't an emotion. Love is a messy, difficult, deeply beautiful, mysterious and precious action that requires much perseverance and grace. I am grateful to God for a brother that has stood by me not only through good, but through trials. I owe Jake a lot. I love you forever Jinkubo!

Tears come to my eyes thinkin' about Justin. Justin has always made me feel safe. As a deeply sensitive person, I can't remember a time where Justin didn't make room for my strong emotions and make me feel less-than for having them. He has always embraced the realest and most vulnerable parts of me. That has made a profound impact on my life. Justin has always been my brother first, but not far behind that, he has been my friend. From hoop sesh's, to hip-hop finds we send each other, there is few people I relate to more than Justin. I love you forever Justin!

Luke is going to be my brother in law yes, but over the past few years he has felt more like a friend (in the best way). Moreover, Luke has made me feel like a brother, like family. From day one when I met Luke, I felt myself exhale (you know the nerves being around your girlfriend's family for the first time). Luke never made me feel unwelcome, and he always made me feel free to be myself. Luke is someone I am always excited to be around and joke with. Love you forever Luke!

Jake is someone I look up to greatly. Jake is someone that has always been eager to get to know me and know the real me. From the first time I got to come to Toledo, I remember Jake and I sitting down for about an hour talking about life and our emotions. This feels reminiscent of the kind of guy Jake is. He is deep, he is a feeler, and he is someone that actively works to be his whole self. These qualities are some that I hope to embody and be confident in. Jake is a man that I admire deeply and his character is one to learn from. I love you forever Jake!

I met Chase as a freshman in high school. From day one he took me under his wing and made me feel loved and seen. During a difficult time in my life I found a friend that loved me for who I was. To have someone treat me with such love has been foundational for me. To this day we are still best friends, and no matter where life takes us, I know that I have a loving friend in Chase. Thank you for accepting me for all I am. I love you forever Chase!

Josiah is a dear friend of mine. Through Josiah I have learned much about friendship and love. Transparently, I think we'd both say our friendship has been difficult at times. To me, that is exactly why our friendship is so special. Our relationship has required much effort, endurance, communication and patience. These are the rocks God builds love upon, and because of this we have a relationship with depth unlike any other. We are closer and bestfriends because of it. I love you forever Josiah!

DB and I have been friends since youth baseball. DB is more than a friend, he is a brother. Everyone in my immediate family would say DB is a part of our family. He has just been around for so long that we all hold him close to our hearts. In all of my endeavors, I have had DB at my side. He has been a pioneer in accepting my most authentic and unique self. I would never be the man I am without his constant love and friendship to me. I am forever grateful to have him in my life. I love you forever DBskiii!

I will never forget trash talking people at the local YMCA playing pick up ball. These were the first days I got to know Jeff. We were hooligans, unsure of who we were and searching for meaning in life. I reconnected with Jeff during his college years and my later highschool years. Jeff and I's lives had radically changed and we found ourselves both pursuing faith in Jesus. Jeff and I got closer during COVID, my freshman year of college, and then became roommates. I can always expect a text and call from Jeff weekly; I can always expect him to share his feelings and life with me; I can always expect him to care deeply about my heart. Jeff is easily the most persistent and caring person I know. I model my own friendship to others after the way he loves people. I know when I try to love like Jeff, I end up loving like Jesus does. I love you forever Jefe!

Lucas and I have bonded over a lot of things. Cleveland sports and hoops could have us talking for a lifetime. However a moment him and I shared left us awestruck when we discovered that the deepest pains in our hearts came from such similar moments in our youth. In every feeling and hurt I have, I know for certain I am never alone because I have Lucas. If I ever am anxious, scared, lost I go to Lucas because I know he understands where I am coming from. Lucas is already an incredible friend. He makes people feel safe from the get go. However, the relatability we share on top of the incredible friend he is reminds me of how good God is. Finding Lucas is nothing short of a miracle. I love you forever Lucas!

Sean is a special friend of mine. When I met Sean I felt as if I met someone that I was "in-step" with. Sean was my first true friend that I made at Ohio State. Until I met Sean, much of the close friends I had made were older than me. Sean was one of the first people I felt a relatability and understanding with when I got to college. Our spirituality, our high school experiences, our college experiences, and our emotional experiences were all so similar to each other. I am grateful for a friend that has stuck with me during hard times and has always desired to know the authentic and imperfect versions of me. Sean is one of the most dynamic people I know and one of the most intentional friends I know. I am better because of Sean. I love you forever Sean!

Jensen is a friend I cherish greatly. He is someone I met in Columbus right when I arrived to college. From day one I met someone that was extremely accepting of who I was, and had no agenda or expectation on who I could be. This was very refreshing for me. I met someone relatable and safe to be human. Jensen's relationship has been very healing for me. Jensen and his awesome wife, Meg have always invited me into their lives and made me feel like family. I have felt loved and honored by them and am privileged to be close to the wonderful person Jensen is. I love you forever Jen!