Joanna Cho <3

This blog post was an idea given to me by one of my very best friends, Joanna. Funny enough, this blog post is going to be all about Joanna. Now if we go back about four years Joanna attended Kennedy Junior High and I attended Jefferson. So, we did not meet until 1st period Al/Geo freshman year. Since our teacher made the seating chart alphabetically we sat next to each other. Now if you know Joanna, you know she is very quiet around people she does not know, so she never really talked to me. Just awkward eye contact and forced laughter. Until we both realized we were on the swim team. We were both two of the worst girls on the team residing in lanes 11 and 12. It was not until we had swim practice together every day after school that we became friends. It was a new friendship and I was still wary of who she was. Or if she would accept who I was, because as Joanna knows now I can be a handful. Anyways, as the year went on Joanna and I ended up moving into one another’s lanes and talking just about every day. Now there are other people we also became friends with but they are not a part of this blog post. After almost a full swim season Joanna and our fellow swim friends decided we wanted to hang out outside of school. This was the start of our ultimate sugar factory tradition. A tradition that will be continued in college. Joanna and I also signed up for the same driver’s ed class together, but we were only three classes in when Covid came around. Now I am sure there is much more that happened freshman year, but this is a good overview.   

By the time sophomore year arrived, Joanna and I were cheated out of a swim season together. But our friendship was already strong enough to withstand the time apart. We talked a lot over the phone but it was not until we went back to school that we started hanging out again. For the first two months back, our parents took turns driving us to school, until we got our licenses! In fact, Joanna was the first person I had driven after I got my license. We went to Starbucks and then Fox Valley Mall, which was a little bit of a longer drive than I was anticipating. Anyway, Joanna and I started driving one another to school every day. We would be at 5th avenue ready for a parking spot by 6:30 in the morning, which looking back is a horrific way to live. I am very grateful for my parking pass. Joanna and I would also always stop at either Starbucks or Dunkin, which was not good for my health or bank account, but it was our tradition and we loved it. 

Moving to junior year, Joanna and I still drove together but with another one of our best friends, Maízy. This year was when Joanna and I became inseparable. We had Spanish, lunch, and gym together! I felt like I saw her more than my own family. Then there were the weekends. Joanna and I would spend hours in her basement watching our favorite reality show, Vanderpump Rules. The only times

we would leave were for more snacks. We also went to different restaurants, movie theaters, and ice skating rinks together. Junior year was when we created most of our memories. I also forgot to mention, Joanna and I are in student government together. I remember one morning before our last election we were sitting in the car and I was so nervous my stomach hurt. I was glad Joanna was there because she is one of the only people who I would have wanted to comfort me. I did not even realize it at the time but Joanna had taught me a lot about friendship. She showed me what it means to show unconditional kindness and truly look out for those around you. Joanna is one of the most selfless people I know and I do not think I would have made it through junior year, or getting a spray tan, without her. 

Now that Joanna and I are seniors are friendship is stronger than ever. We are headed for Florida together in February and we might even be attending the same college next year! My whole life I thought I had all the friends I needed, but boy was I wrong. I have no doubt in my mind that Joanna Cho is going to be a lifelong friend!