true to one's color

By Keilani J

Over the years, people come and go. Sometimes specific people cling to you amidst the harsh winds of life and you can struggle keeping ahold of the good and beneficial individuals. These “good and beneficial” people in your life are called friends. Having healthy friendships can always support you even at your lowest points; This is especially true with Yerba Buena High School senior Gabriel Jiminez.

One of the characteristics he loves about his friend group is their loyalty to each other, as he stated, “What I like most about them is… that they will always come when [I] tell them to.”

Lopez started his friend group in Leyva Middle school, and as they walked past each other more often and overtime realized they had similar interests such as sports like football and video games, a group chat was made and used by the group to chat and talk to each other. Inside jokes had stuck and nicknames were made as they progressed throughout the year.

But, some friendships like Lopez had during middle school don’t always stay that way. “I actually did have a friend, but… he just went ghost for some reason ‘cause something happened. But the thing I wanted to do with him was like, go out and stuff, like go to a party or go to like anywhere you know what I mean? Just to go somewhere with him, like a vacation or something,” said Lopez. They had separated when Lopez had unfortunately moved away. His friend hadn’t made an effort to contact him at all digitally or physically after the move.

“They’re loyal like, they don’t do no fake stuff…” said Lopez, fondly describing his friends. He detailed a memory of getting their dirt bikes stuck into the sand at the beach, and how they all helped each other get them out. His friends were there for him, especially in times of vulnerability. “When I’m frustrated or scared... they help me y’know? Like, I know they’re gonna be there for me.”

Lopez had a struggle with putting his friend group into words, keen on representing them all correctly. He simply concluded, “I don’t really know how to describe them. They’re like, family to me.”