“Aarnav!” Two heads immediately bob up. Every day I have gone to my second period class The Sidekick, I have almost always had to suffer this experience with my friend, senior Aarnav Yarlagadda.
Upon first glance, The Sidekick staff writer Aarnav Yarlagadda does not seem to be the kind of person to ever win Most Dedicated Staffer.
In fact, you can often find him chatting with others in the room.
Although he seems easygoing, the hard work that I have seen him pour into his comics tells a different story. His love for the program is showcased by his dedication to covering local meetings, drawing detailed comics and opinionated column writing.
I distinctly remember the first time I met Aarnav. It was the very first day of school and I cautiously stepped into D115. I felt nervous to enter the classroom because I was unsure of how The Sidekick would be. Aarnav saw me looking around and said, “Hey! Come sit here.” From that moment onwards, I always felt welcome in D115.
Aarnav is casually calm, cool and collected. Aarnav’s superpower is the ease in which he connects with other people. Whether he is casually talking to other staff members or The Sidekick adviser Chase Wofford, working with someone else on an assignment, or interviewing sources for his stories, he always manages to spark a conversation with them effortlessly.
From the start of the year, I have always looked up to Aarnav as a mentor for me in the program. He never hesitates to explain to me how to do something or where to look. The first time I did news coverage, he was by my side, guiding me through the process and helping step-by-step.
The thing I respect most about Aarnav is his ability to stay no. He has helped me balance my work schedule to make sure that I put out quality over quantity.
Beyond being a great staff member, he is also a great friend.
He is always supportive of whatever endeavors I plan to pursue and any new types of stories I want to try. He lightens the mood wherever he is, never taking things too seriously and making sure that other people are feeling OK.
When he leaves for college next year, I will miss the casual conversations, the dap-up every time I enter class and the bond that we have formed over the year.
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