My big sister earned this when she called the school office pretending to be my mom and told them I had to stay home sick. Thanks big sis. She loves cooking, caring for her three sons, arts & crafts, and celebrating others. 📍Medford, OR

She’s the only friend I’ve known for the entirety of her life—since she was in the womb! She’s full of sass but she has a sweet soul and cares deeply. 📍Glendora, CA

Rebecca used to hate me during the first few years of high school, but somehow we became best friends after we graduated. She's crazily ambitious, hard working, intelligent, FUNNY, and loyal. I'll never forget when I coordinated a surprise visit to Philadelphia, and "ran into her" at a restaurant. I'll also never forget when she flew from her semester abroad in Rome to surprise ME at my 21st birthday party. Love you forever! 📍 Los Angeles, CA

I first met Julia when I was nine years old--and I was envious of her immediately. She's beautiful, smart, witty, and spontaneous. Talk to her about music, she goes to three concerts a week. 📍 Los Angeles, California

When I went to my first ever Bible study, I met Adrienne and she became my first Christian friend. I wasn't really sure how Christians were--in fact I was afraid they'd be weird and out of touch... but she showed me such wonderful qualities. She is fun, kind, caring, intentional, brave and bold at helping others, and she's full of grace and wisdom. She is the best example I could have seen of what it means to live like Jesus. 📍Spokane, Washington

My favorite memory with Julia is when I tagged along her family's Europe vacation. I will never forget going to Michelin star restaurants, a bubble pit night club, a spa in Bath, England, and taking pictures in a hayfield in the Cotswolds. She's fun, creative, and consistent. And she makes her own art to decorate her home! I appreciate her so much! 📍New York, NY

Desiree is the person you text when you want a spontaneous adventure. There have been multiple instances where we went on a trip in a moment's notice--like when we drove to Canada, had a beach getaway in North Carolina, or camped in the Ithacan snow. She is ALWAYS up for making fun memories and shes brilliant, like--she's in med school brilliant.  📍Boston, Massachusetts

Our friendship began after I posted a blurb about myself in the "Class of 2020 Cornell girls roommate search" Facebook group. We connected and agreed to be roommates for our freshman year, but ended up staying roommates for all four years. Some of my favorite memories include working from "home" together in France and Spain, and watching scary movies together in our apartment. 📍San Francisco, CA

Kaila is a good friend. A really really good friend. She is intentional to make time to be with you, she's generous with what she has, she is caring and empathetic. When I went through health trials or other hard times, she went through them with me. She is unlike any other friend I've ever had. She's also fun, gorgeous, and confident. So grateful for her! 📍Ithaca, NY

Laura and I met at a writer's retreat in Vermont. One day when everyone was eating a communal dinner, Laura and I found each other in the kitchen alone, warming up food we had packed and brought. Turns out we both have special health...circumstances. We bonded over that but our friendship has remained consistent and intentional. She's kind, caring, warm, and disciplined and also ambitious! Check her out on Amazon, she's a published author of two novels! 📍Allentown, Pennsylvania

Annie and I thought we had a lot in common because we both worked at the NYC office at IBM and studied the same major at Cornell. Then we realized we were both from Los Angeles. Then we realized we were both from the San Gabriel Valley in LA. Then we realized she lived in Azusa and I lived in Glendora (5 mins away from each other). So when covid hit and we had to leave Cornell to quarantine study home, it wasn't so hard for me. My class mate lived just down the street! 📍 New Haven, Connecticut

DON PIERRE NOIR DONALDSON, one of three from the Bedford courts. He and Reco were the first friends I made after I moved to North Carolina for high school. He’s the only male among his siblings, which perhaps is why he’s the cleanest dressed guy I know. He’s a pensive man who pursues knowledge, wisdom, and the thrills of life, but he knows how to unplug and have fun. Take notes!

Another brother from the Bedford basketball courts, a place where he took no prisoners! He and Don were my first friends when I moved to NC for high school. He’s an entrepreneur, a man who enjoys the simple things, and he has a heart of 24 karat gold! Whenever I need encouragement, Reco is one to do it to the MAX. He asks questions that make you think about life in a new way, and he’s not afraid to try new things. Be careful though, his sarcasm can be contagious!

My brother. A man of many talents, who goes by many names! As a brotha from the same motha, we were raised cooking things from scratch! If he catches you with unseasoned eggs this weekend, he will undoubtedly let you know. I have so much love for this man, make an effort to meet him and you won’t be sorry!

Don’t let the big muscles, rough beard, or strong knack for consuming alcohol fool you! Kai is a kind hearted teddy bear who looks after his own. Ever since meeting him at the University of Kansas, Kai has had my back! He reminds me to have fun and to get out to smell the roses, but also not to have too much fun because… well… anyway… that’s Kai!

White Boy Joy doesn’t quite capture the love for life Garrett has. Garrett is a man of the people who is always down for a good time! I don’t always see him on the dance floor, but it’s probably because he’s gettin down somewhere already. I would also talk about how dedicated he is to helping the youth and his community, but I’ll let him tell you himself when you meet him. Once you meet him, you’ll love him

Josh is my first brother-in-law! On the surface you would think he tells nothing but dad jokes, loves Taco Bell, gaming, and energy drink… and if you thought those things, you’d be right! He’s been through a lot, so he has stories for days… talk to him about anything Norse, and he’ll have something to say… he can make a blue sky out of one that is gray!

The Yin to my Yang. I met him my junior year at boarding school, and we couldn’t be more different! I tended to me more to myself, he was loud and boisterous. I tried to be the nice guy, but being nice… was not a priority of his. I spent most of my time studying, he spent most of his on the basketball court. Through our differences he is one of many to force me out of my shell. Get to know him this weekend!

I’ve never met a cucumber quite like Benson. Calm and collected in nearly every situation (at least… the ones I’ve seen him in), he is a competitor to the core! He will out work anybody in the gym, on the track, on the mat, you name it! And look good doing it (9 out of 10 times he’ll be in a onesie)! I haven’t yet seen him bleed, so he may not even be human. It’s his superhuman work ethic that pushes me to this day!

Dave Chappelle? Who is Dave Chappelle? The way Shawn sees the world leads him to be one of the funniest guys I know. His humor is one I look forward to, but don’t experience enough! We met our last two years of high school, but I’ve had the pleasure of running into him later in life and we got together without missing a beat! He’s a great guy to simply chat with and bounce ideas off of… when he’s not gaming.