“Buh-roh.”

This phrase comes from The Sidekick staff writer Aashi Panchal’s mouth around five times daily. It also garners an obligatory eye roll full of annoyance. 

It may signify that she does not want to do something or be in response to something crazy. Nonetheless, I consider it her catchphrase. 

But I know she is more than this. She is a person who will not let any obstacle stop or define her. Instead, she will do anything to leap over hurdles and stop them in their tracks. 

I have only known Aashi for a year and a half, but that time has been incredibly influential on my personal and professional development. We shared both our Medical Terminology and Geometry Honors classes sophomore year, but it was not until November that we really got to know each other.

Since the first day of each class, I watched Aashi walk in, quickly starting conversation with all those around her. It struck me that she was the complete opposite of me, who cowered in the unknown environments and locked my lips shut. 

As the year progressed, I learned more aspects of who she is and what she involved herself in, including how we are both in The Sidekick. This was just the foundation. Through this, I saw how both her dedication and calm-headedness shines through no matter the situation. 

In fact, our relationship grew so rapidly that many 2024-25 staffers thought that we were either siblings or dating, and The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford would ask us questions about each other in our class periods. 

I recall texting her many times frantically asking for help with stories, random questions or concerns about other classwork, but every instance ended with her guidance and me eventually figuring everything out. 

Aashi had been through a lot of personal developmental moments herself before we met, both internally and externally. Most would have crumbled under those circumstances, but not her. She fought through and emerged better than before. At first glance you might not know, but when getting to understand who she was, I realized just how lucky I was to be friends with her.

It is common knowledge that friends get into arguments. Over the years, we have gotten into many, but in December, one occurred making me think I would lose her. I spent days somberly pondering what the rest of our time at Coppell High School would be like. To lose her would be like losing a part of my heart and soul. 

This past October, my family lost our dog of almost nine years. I recall the week after where I spent many hours on FaceTime, sobbing while I held her picture in my hands. Many people would probably have left or said a simple “I’m sorry for your loss,” but Aashi stayed. She was there for every minute, even saying she would bake muffins for my family. 

Speaking of that, where are those, Aashi? It’s been six months!

Countless times I put her on a pedestal, often feeling inferior. But why? Not because of who she is, but because of why she is. Her motives behind what she does and how she acts are held at such a morally high standard that to say she’s doing something wrong would be a lie.

Being an impulsive person, many times I had to stop my actions in their tracks and rethink them with her telling me of my potential embarrassment and humiliation. I would like to say that has stuck with me in my daily life choices, but who knows – I have another year with her by my side. 

Our weekdays and weekends, especially during junior year, have been spent sitting in her car, sipping on drinks from 151 Coffee or gulping down Baja Blast freezes from Taco Bell. Needless to say, those have been some of my favorite memories, laughing our heads off while we narrate our stupid daily embarrassments or random pieces of drama. 

Frequently, executive business/sponsorships manager Naseeha Masood and editorial page editor Hamza Zakir comment on our relationship resembling that of brother and sister, or mother and son with the way we play fight, or how Aashi retaliates after endless pestering from me. In the end, there is always a lesson learned. That is the perfect way to describe it.

It is crazy to think it has only been a year and a half since we met, but our friendship has had a seemingly longer existence. In that time, Aashi has rubbed off on me in so many ways, some necessary and some interesting. I cannot wait to see what our senior year brings us.

So, thank you, Aashi. The past two years have been such a blast. I do not know how different I would be without you. 

Keep giving life the Panch that you do every single day. 

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