Defne YucesoySome people enter your life loudly with big gestures, unforgettable first impressions that make you go “Wow, this person has to be in my life.” and dramatic moments. Others arrive quietly and stay so deeply that you only realize years later how much of who you are has been shaped by their presence. Zeynep started to become my person during Covid-19 with half of forehead sticking out of the camera of my computer.
We met in 7th grade when every interaction with everyone was awkward and uncertain. It was hard to understand who you are and what you want to become at that time. There was nobody that you could call a friend to help guide you and made you sure with where you belonged. Friendship back then felt superficial. It felt like it was about who you sat next to, who you partnered with or who you finished group projects with. With Zeynep, it was different almost immediately. I felt a sense of ease, not being performative or to pretend. We could just exist and the simplicity of this only led to something so deep.
As years passed our friendship grew in ways that mirrored our growth. We didn’t just share memories , we shared the school pressure, the excitement of transferring schools, our first heartbreaks, new expectations… We experienced the shift from childhood to adolescence together navigating identity questions and the fear that we were too behind on life as years passed.
What made Zeynep from my other so called “best friends” over the years was that she wasn’t just there during the fun times (though there were countless amounts of those) , b ut that she stayed during the difficult ones too. The days when motivation was gone, the moments where self doubt spoke louder than anyone else, the times where everything felt overwhelming. She never fixed everything or even try to fix everything. She listened, she understood she cried with me. Sometimes that was all I needed.
Before Zeynep I thought friendship was about finding the same boy attractive, sharing laughs and interests. With her I had the chance to find out that real friendship goes much more deeper. It’s about loyalty when things get messy, It’s about honesty even when the truth is way to uncomfortable to speak about, It’s about to grow separately without growing apart.
Zeynep thought me that you don’t always need to compete with people you love. Instead, you cheer for them from the bleachers and support their ambitions while still holding place for your own.
Knowing Zeynep didn’t just shape how I see friendship but it shaped how I see life itself. She has a way of approaching situations with emotional intelligence and quiet strength. She feels deeply, thinks carefully, and cares genuinely. Watching her move through challenges with resilience made me more reflective about how I handle my own.
Through countless conversations about school, dreams, fears, and everything in between I started to understand the value of perspective. She helped me realize that not everything needs an immediate answer, that growth takes time, and that it’s okay not to have everything figured out at sixteen, seventeen, or even later.
What I appreciate most is that our friendship didn’t stay stuck in one version of ourselves like we were in 7th grade. We changed naturally. Our interests evolved, our priorities shifted, our personalities matured. We sometimes needed time apart and that was okay. Yet the connection remained, adapting instead of breaking. That kind of friendship is rare, especially in an environment where so many relationships fade as people grow.
Zeynep became part of the rhythm of my life. Someone whose opinion mattered. Someone whose presence brought comfort. Someone who could make ordinary moments feel meaningful just by being there.
When I look back at everything we’ve been through since 7th grade, I don’t just see a bunch of memories. I see influence and growth. I see a person who helped shape the way I trust, the way I communicate, and the way I value the people around me.
Some friendships are chapters of your story. Others become part of the story itself. Zeynep is not just someone I met in middle school , she is so much more than that in my story. She is someone who shaped the way I understand friendship, loyalty, and life. And for that, I will always be grateful.
