Looking back, I would categorize our first interaction as peculiar. A peculiar interaction that led me to a peculiar perception of you. Which is odd, since peculiar is the one adjective that contradicts most people’s perception of you.
I still remember it. The Arial font of the question typed out on the board. The slurred yet obnoxious delivery of my answer. The exchanged glance between the two of us, your face brimming with excitement. As small of an interaction as it was, I reached one conclusion: we were both complete nerds.
And that is how I befriended The Sidekick executive managing editor Nrithya Mahesh. It has been two years since I first met Nrithya, and I soon realized that her eccentric character extended past my estimate. For starters, when she is not stressing over our upcoming issue or tracking the 102 deadlines of our staff, Nrithya finds herself tracking something she cherishes even more: the next comeback of hit girl group sensation Red Velvet.
Yes, that’s right. The oh-so-nonchalant “maybe even listening to Red Velvet” in her staff bio is an understatement. If she has time and a way to, she’s feeling Red Velvet’s rhythm. Naturally, conversations between the two of us just come automatic, our times together spent discussing new releases and opinions on albums.
It was out of chance that I discovered another thing: Nrithya happened second year on The Sidekick, meaning she was technically my superior. From random questions about design to advice on how to be a journalist as good as her, Nrithya has always had an answer. It is from these small yet impactful interactions that we shared where Nrithya became someone I would classify as an unofficial mentor. To this day, I still find myself blowing up Nrithya’s phone before anyone else’s when I need a quick question answered.
You didn’t gain my respect for you because you were a second year or whatever fancy title you have now; You came to be one of the most respected people in my life because of the guidance you have given me.
So thank you, for being one of many upperclassmen who guided me through my years at CHS. I hope the University of Texas at Austin gives you as much as you have given me, and most importantly, I hope your love for Red Velvet remains cosmic.
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