Foundations of Friendship

There are so many pictures and memories to choose from when reflecting back on one of the very best weeks of my life in beautiful Nicaragua.  When I stumbled upon this one, it made so much sense.  It includes and combines the most important aspects of this journey and in a single picture, I am reminded of the beauty life has to offer.

I look at this picture and I see a few things.  First, I see Ibis and Kristen, the girls on either side of me.  Coming in to this journey as strangers and leaving it as friends.  Forming bonds with both of these ladies that have been incredibly special for me.  These friendships have formed from laughter, similarities, differences and being out of our comfort zone. 

I look and I see that I, along with the others, are in deep thought.  We are each drawing our own “River of Life”- a task that is more daunting than one would think.  It begs the question, “What direction do you see your life heading in?”.  A question that has become all too real with three more months left in college.  Seeing the girls looking over as we all contemplate this together brings a sort of peace.  It shows that we are not in this alone.

​One of the ladies looking over as we draw our rivers is Mariella, a ‘sweet as can be’ high school student and I see Miguel, a ‘shy, energetic and incredibly funny’ middle school aged student both from the El Manzano Uno community.  The five of us all working together- planning our lives and unknowingly all impacting each other by simple looks, words and feelings. 

~ Emiy Direnzo