Jessie and I met in kindergarten through FCPS, and from the very beginning, our friendship just stuck. We went through every stage of school together: elementary, middle, and high school, building memories and growing side by side along the way. We were even in Girl Scouts together, and in high school, we both served on the board for our school’s after-school club, Buddies, during our senior year.

FCPS didn’t just bring us together once; it kept us together through every chapter of our lives and gave us countless shared experiences that shaped who we are today. Now, we’re both in college, we are in Buddies together here, and this May we will be graduating together, which feels incredibly special knowing how far we’ve come side by side.

Today, our lives continue to grow, but our bond remains as strong as ever. From kindergarten to college graduation, we’ve truly grown up together, and I’m so grateful that FCPS played such a massive role in bringing us together and keeping us connected all these years.