Sometimes when you meet exceptional people, you don’t necessarily know that they’re exceptional. When I met Alethia, she was just an ordinary human, in a rather oversaturated major (Communications). And even though things prevented us from being friends from the on start, it’s nice to know that I can now count on her if I ever need any words of wisdom or advice.
Perhaps the one word that can best be used to describe her is faith. Her whole livelihood and her mannerisms and behavior all stem from her belief in God. And though I’ve only been to church with her a few times, I know enough about her belief system to value that in a human being. Not only is she completely devoted to her religion, but she is never overbearing in a way that some Christian fundamentalists are. The best characteristics she has is empathy for all human beings. Her kindness is not only transparent in her words, but her actions in how she treats others around her. I strive to be equally as resilient and kind in a world that often times is not. And so, despite being hundreds of miles away with Northern California, that continued contact is there, allowing our friendship to bridge the gap of distance.
Top memories with her include of course,
- Taking several Communications courses, which of course included the ABLE campaign, a rather embarassing campaign that didn’t actually make much sense now that I think about it.
- Phil’s BBQ. Because eventually, after several years talking about it, we finally got to go.
- The best contact occurs when you least expect it though. Who would have thought that we would have still maintained contact after all these years? Certainly not me.
I send my regards to Alethia as she approaches the crux of her life where she decides her eventual career path. We both simultaneously abandoned our Communications degree and pursued different paths, teaching and Occupational Therapy accordingly.
I know no matter what path she ends up deciding and praying on, she’ll be great at whatever she does. #26reasonswhy
