♥♥♥♥ you're right...Mrs. Mendoza, the menace LMAO

Just to let everyone know. That test that the guy below me was talking about was in 9th grade. I remember cause of our teacher. Ms. Mendoza, oh god.

Hey Noah,

You're 18.

I'm sorry I have to say that again.

You're 18.

Wow. I can't believe it. I ju- I just can't believe it. YOU'RE 18!!! Every time I say it out loud, I believe it less and less. How has time gone by so fast? I've known you for 5 years now? Wow. Man, time can't flow this fast, can it? Oh man...I thought with time would come blurry memories but that's absolutely false,if anything, they're even more vivid. I can clearly remember those soccer practices in late middle school/early high school where we would do practice penalty shootouts and every time I went up to shoot, I would get so nervous because of YOU...you formidable goalkeeper!

You would block every shot I would take like it was nothing, and it wasn't just me! Everyone was scared to go up against you! Everyone amazed by your talent, skill, and work ethic, and wow -- You're 18. I can clearly remember that second semester of 7th grade when we we took our Math exam and got our results back. I remember myself, being the "mathwiz" I am, racking in that 74 and instantly receiving this flush of relief that I had passed the class, and then I turned to Alex to see him glaring at his 92, fixed with emotions only comparable to a mix of glee and shock and, then I remember turning around to check on what you got, and what I saw will stay with me for the rest of my life. I saw you looking at your paper, scrutinizing it.

You had this look of improvement and only improvement, and when we asked what you got, you just nonchalantly said,"Oh, a 96." That's the thing about you man. You are proud of yourself, as you have good reason to be, but the thing that separates you from the crowd is your mindset. There is ALWAYS something to improve on. You are NEVER finished. You set your mind to one goal, achieve it no matter what, and then set another goal. You see life as uphill climb, but a climb that has no finish. To you, there are times when the climb is fairly easy, times when you don't break a sweat on your trek upwards, but then there are climbs that are excruciatingly brutal

You grit your teeth with every step you take on your journey to the top. This mindset of yours is so contagious, you have no idea how much it has helped me, and I can't thank you enough. After watching you climb your way up for the past 5 years, I've seen you go through both types of climbs, and Noah, I'm so privileged to have you as a friend. I'm so privileged to be the person to catch your foot if it looses its place on your climb. I'm so privileged to be first person you vent at, or ask for advice. You're the strongest person I know, and I can't see anyone else topping you. I've been blessed to have you in my life, and I've been even more blessed to have you tolerate my horrible personality for the past 5 years, and who knows, maybe you'll be able to tolerate it until we're both 21 -- then alcohol will make our friendship easier but for now...

raises cup filled with cranberry juice

Here's to you and your 18 years on this Earth.
Happy birthday man.


-- Just a lucky friend