“Can I have some Takis?”
Those were the first words Rhea Choudhary had ever said to me, and little did I know that this moment would be the start of a friendship that would shape my Sidekick experience.
During the first week of my sophomore year, I was eating my snacks in Sidekick when Rhea came up to me and asked if she could have some, becoming a daily experience of her perusing through my snacks.
Flash forward a year to my junior year, when I walked into D115, I heard a familiar voice chattering in the room. Rhea was in both my second and sixth period classes. I knew of Rhea as some random leadership member who would always take my food, but as our conversations deepened and our paths continued to inevitably cross, I began to realize Rhea is the epiphany of the sister I never had.
Over the 2024-25 school year, I have been lucky enough to spend more time with Rhea. Most of our hangouts involve grabbing drinks from Swig, indulging in snacks from Trader Joe’s, coming along to grocery store trips at Costco and occasionally, though rarely, making it to the gym, only to end up sitting at the café, munching on our “healthy” acai bowls from Smoothie King.
What stands out most about Rhea, though, is her incredible versatility as a leader, writer and photographer. I remember during my first year in Sidekick, I was completely lost when it came to interviewing people. Without hesitation, Rhea came to my aid. She gave me sample interview questions and walked me through how to ask follow-ups. To this day, I still incorporate the tips she gave me.
No matter the situation, how silly or serious, Rhea has become someone I can talk to and rant to, from having FaceTime calls filled with laughs and sarcastic comments to switching to a deep conversation in seconds. I am the type of person to always hide my problems and never share what I am feeling, but with Rhea, I find myself opening up. Whether I have had a good day or a bad one, she is always the person I end up venting to. She listens, gives the best advice and always knows how to offer the right kind of reassurance when I need it most.
The thing about Rhea is that she is not just a good friend; she is an incredible mentor. I can always joke around with her and tease her a little bit (or a lot when I’m feeling satirical), but at the end of the day, I know I can count on her for honest advice and support.
So, thank you, Rhea, for filling my only-child heart with the warmth of sisterly love as you filled your stomach with my snacks.
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