Best friends, woven with memories, and laughter have proven to bring joy into people’s lives. As students navigate obstacles, the friendships created help provide them with the courage to persevere. Some form from innocent adventures during childhood, some from a simple greeting, but no matter how it starts, the growth of friendships knows no bounds. Friendships enrich people’s lives through the comfort of knowing that there is someone who understands one another, accepts each other for who they are, and stands by their friends regardless of success or failure. Juniors Arin Dasgupta and Sai Aki have become best friends through their shared escapades since their freshman year.

“Some of Sai’s qualities I admire are his enthusiasm and his speaking skills because his words are motivating,” said Dasgupta.

Dasgupta and Aki’s friendship has grown through enjoying each other’s company and fostering a sense of deep trust with each other. The two friends make it a nightly ritual to FaceTime and study together, demonstrating their mutual priority to each other’s companionship. When faced with conflict in the friendship, both understand that their friendship surpasses any disagreement, placing their bond above anything else.

“We have a running joke right now where instead of dapping each other up, we will do something random like elbow bumps,” said Aki. “One time he ran his head into my elbow and then he got hurt from it. That is one of the unique aspects of our friendships because we feel comfortable enough to have silly jokes with each other.” 

Dasgupta and Aki’s friendship has brought them a long way because their compassion and empathy for each other has helped them navigate through challenges as well as foster a bond that grows each day. Seniors Emily Puthoor and Andrea Tony share a similar relationship. Their friendship first started when they met in a church and bonded through being in the Houston Tamil Catholic community during seventh grade. 

“Andrea is the mom of the friend group because she is mature; she has a very clear understanding about a lot of things which I feel like I am very immature about, so she is my go-to person when it comes to giving advice,” said Puthoor. “Another thing I admire so much about her is she is a great accountability partner. For example, I have to text her in the morning when I wake up; otherwise, she will call me, tell me to wake up, and get ready for school.”

The two friends hold each other accountable for setting aside time to study and making sure the other does not fall behind in school. Tony admires Puthoor’s ability to stay organized and self-disciplined. This inspires Tony to adopt her habits and incorporate them into her everyday life. 

“One day in my chemistry class sophomore year, I did not do well on a test,” said Tony. I started crying, and Emily was one of the people who sat with me, calmed me down, tried to distract me, and brought me back.”

Retaining friendships is an important part of high school because it allows individuals to inspire each other to be the best version of themselves. High school is an emotional rollercoaster filler with highs and lows and it can be a relief to have a support system to help students get through it.