We first met each other at the beginning of 9th grade, but we didn't start talking to each other a lot until later in the year. Our friendship grew over time, as we slowly learned more about each other and had the opportunity to support each other through both good and hard times. My friends are each unique. Vy is very outgoing, which I'm grateful for because it's how we became friends. She is incredibly kind, and she is constantly optimistic. Vy is also admirably bold and confident! Lena's personality has a lot of layers; she is sincere and driven, but also very goofy and capable of appreciating the beauty of life. She genuinely cares about the world and gives her whole heart to the people around her. We all uplift each other by being the people in each other's lives who are always willing to lend a listening ear, give advice, or be a source of comfort. We make each other better by working together to improve our communities and helping each other's dreams become reality. We are all kind and we are willing to work incredibly hard to achieve our goals and make the world a better place. These shared ideals bring us together. 

-Elizabeth Belica

I first met Vy the summer before freshman year. She and I had gone to the same middle school for 8th grade and we had learned of our acceptances to WYWLA. I met Elizabeth when I came to WYWLA freshman year, my first distinct memory of being together was at the back-to-school block party.  We became good friends towards the end of freshmen year, and our friendship was solidified as we had mutual classes such as APES. Both my friends are extraordinary; Vy is vivacious and tenacious. She has always been uncommonly kind, and incredibly supportive. Elizabeth is compassionate and quick-witted. She is intentionally thoughtful and creatively caring. To be friends with Vy and Elizabeth is to be shown the world through a lens of joy, laughter, and unconditional encouragement. It means the world to me to be their friend. We each try our best to uplift each other based on the needs of the moment. Whether it’s lending an ear or a sweatshirt we are there for one another. We love hanging out together as much as we can! There is a little cafe in between where we each live that we go to. We frequently refer to this cafe as "our spot" as it has hosted our conversations many times. Although our schedules don't allow us to meet as often as we would like, we prioritize catching up at school and sometimes over a phone call. We are all extremely dedicated to our school community, share humor, are very passionate, and are extremely encouraging. These traits have bonded us over the years! 

-Lena Klayman

We all became good friends during sophomore year and bonded through APES and common interests. Both my friends are remarkable people. Lena is genuine as a friend and passionate, while Elizabeth is reliable as a friend and persistent. We lift each other up by being there when things are rough. Sometimes, this may simply be listening to each other's daily updates! We try to make plans and hang out outside school, but our schedules often conflict. So, we spend most of the time together at school. We are all genuine, caring, and passionate characters; these values bonded us!

-Vy Dang