Episode 14: Claire, Emma, Hannah, Kate

Back when I was in middle school, I had a group of really amazing friends. Dan, Alfred, Dan, Nina, John, Abby, Anna, Ariel, Emily, Sara. We didn’t always hang out all the time together, but in some configuration, we were always a crew.

Some of us stayed in touch after middle school, but we ended up at five different high schools. I remember going to Abby, Dan and Alfred’s graduations. I saw Anna, Dan and Abby in the audience during a play I was in junior year. Alfred and I lived together for a few summers and still see each other about once a year as he lives up the road from my mom. I met up with Sara on a late night whim one night years ago in San Diego. Some friends and I crashed at Nina’s apartment in Montreal one winter night. Emily and I went to college together but had different friend groups. I saw Dan a few years ago in a hardware store and ran into Ariel’s mom a while back. Dan, Alfred and I went winter camping a few times. I've only seen John once since middle school.

In essence, our crew did what most groups of middle school friends do…we grew apart. We acknowledged each other, but we made new friends. 

 

As a teacher, though, I get to witness so many groups of friends. And I can tell you, there is a magic in some of those connections I watch that make me think, “these aren’t just fleeting friendships…these people aren’t just placeholders for the friends who come next…these people are in it for life.” The four guests I am welcoming onto the show today have done just that: sustained friendships through high school and college, and now into the adult world of making rent, holding down jobs, and navigating the journey of emerging adulthood. I’m excited to share some of the wisdom they’ve developed over the years, so let’s go hang out with today’s guests: 

 

Claire Marshall

Emma Stevens

Hannah Casey 

Kate DeFrino

 

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Thanks again for tuning in. Here’s to connecting, reflecting, and staying hungry to learn. -Will