Better Together is a feature that showcases students and staff members who make each better through leadership practices.

Miyar Alsammak & Arianna Rassi

JANUARY BETTER TOGETHER 

Two 7th graders continue their journey with each other as they go through the WYWLA middle school experience, here is their story...  

Miyar and I met each other either near the middle or the end of sixth grade. We sat next to each other in Digital Literacy class and we became friends later on. Miyar is very caring and is like the mom of the group. However, she can be very wild! She listens to me rant all the time and is extremely playful. We love to talk about ENHYPEN… which we try to keep a secret. I support Miyar a lot through my actions, while she supports me by congratulating and complimenting me. We love to FaceTime for hours. We love to bond over Roblox and K-pop, and share lot of the same opinions. 

-Ariana Rassi, 7th grade 

I became friends with Ariana towards the middle of sixth grade after we found common interests while sitting next to each other in Digital Literacy class. Ariana is very funny and loves to tease me playfully! She is a very sarcastic person, but I know that deep down she is also a very caring person. We love, love, love to talk about everything (although I do most of the talking). Arianna is supportive and encouraging to not only me, but to everyone around her. We think alike, which draws us closer together. 

-Miyar Alsammak, 7th grade

Sophia Verdicchio & Carolina Mitchell

JANUARY BETTER TOGETHER 

Two seniors finish up their WYWLA high school career together, lets hear their story...

Carolina and I both met sophomore year and by junior year at Wake Technical Community College, we had become true friends. We were in the same American History class, and we always took notes and reviewed for tests and quizzes together. After that, we were inseparable. We became good friends by working through life’s challenges side by side. Whatever one of us is going through, the other has always been there to face it too. Over time, that shared strength and support have made our bond even deeper, turning friendship into something more like family. I would describe Carolina as an incredibly truthful person. She never hesitates to speak her mind, and she will always tell you the truth, even when it’s hard to hear. Her loyalty is unwavering. Carolina consistently puts others first, always thinking about what is best for you and how she can support you. Her honesty, loyalty, and genuine kindness make her someone you can trust with anything. We lift each other up by always being each other’s biggest supporters. When one of us feels overwhelmed or discouraged, the other steps in with encouragement, honesty, and comfort. We remind each other of our strengths, celebrate even the small victories, and help each other see the good in tough situations. We push each other to grow, to be responsible, and to make choices that lead to a better future. Most importantly, we listen, really listen, without judgment. Because of that, we both feel safe, understood, and motivated to become better versions of ourselves. Some of the biggest similarities we share are our values and the way we approach life. We both care deeply about the people we love, and we’re loyal to a fault. We also share the same sense of humor, which makes even the toughest days a little easier. We think alike, communicate easily, and understand each other without having to explain much. We’re both hardworking, determined, and willing to do whatever it takes to overcome challenges. These similarities are a big part of why our friendship feels so natural and strong.

-Sophia Verdicchio

We met in 10th grade when Sophia transferred from Cardinal Gibbons High School. We became super close in 11th grade at Wake Tech during American History. After that, we started texting, and we became super close, and now we are best friends. I would describe Sophia as a super nice person and a great friend. She is always open to helping anyone at any time. She is the most extroverted person I know, and I admire her kindness. I would also describe Sophia as incredibly caring, whether that be for people or animals. Sophia and I are always there for each other. Whenever one of us has a problem, we work through it as a team and help each other out. We always make sure to support one another, whilst still being honest with each other. This is important because we always make sure to correct each other's mistakes and address issues we see. We hang out all the time at each other's houses, go out for food and lunch, and go to football games together. One thing that I enjoy about usa is that we both care deeply about our academics.  I think it is important to share the same thoughts about academics so you can help your friends if they are struggling. We are both very truthful people and value honesty, which creates an amazing friendship between the two of us. 

-Carolina Mitchell