Dedicated to Mrs. Oliva

I can still remember the day that we met- I was in the Taft High School locker room before school started. A girl from the basketball team who was of a different religion found out that I was LDS and wanted answers to certain questions. Since I was young and naive and didn't know how to properly defend my beliefs, this conversation quickly turned into a heated debate (Later is when I learned to defend my beliefs with the spirit rather than facts and arguing). While in the heated debate, I was searching for someone to back me up and help me defend myself. I spotted a girl who I didn't know personally, but I did know that she was a member of the church from the other stake. I starred at her with a facial expression saying, "Get over here and help me out!!", but to no avail I was left helpless. When all was said and done I was upset that she didn't come to my side and help me. I decided that I didn't like her because she didn't stand up for the church. It wasn't until a year later that I found out here name- Kremer. She was in my pre calculus class and was assigned to sit next to me. Another person, Matt D., became instant friends with Kremer and me and coincidentally Kremer and I gradually became friends. As I got to know her I forgot about the locker room incident because she was such a great friend. After our friendship started to grow, it was then when I learned that she was a recent convert and had no background in the church. Boy did I feel dumb!!! She did in fact forgive me (or so I think :) ) the rest, as they say, is history. There is not one high school memory since that point that doesn't have Kremer in it.

Kremer was basically the only friend that my parents fully trusted and let me do anything with. It was because of Kremer that I was able to become the person I am today. She helped me loosen up, learn how to have fun, and understand what a best friend means. I have so many memories of Kremer and I: going to her house and watching the Lion King, driving in the Wild Stallion, punching a fellow AcDec student and making her bleed :), going to Sonic for Mr. Perkins, Prom and the midnight curfew, the South Padre trip, the wonderful and countless AcDec memories, learning what Matt D.'s last name nickname really meant, her attempting to set up my first kiss experience, all of the West stake dances, youth conference and Habitat for Humanity, throwing paper airplanes across the room to each other in Mrs. Guidry's class and her never figuring out it was us because we were her favorite students, getting lame grades on our Senior Scrapbook even though ours were DEFINITELY the best, the condo stay at AcDec competition, and countless others.

Though we have grown apart these last four years due to college that is out of state and other reasons, she is still one of the few girls that I call my best friend. She helped me really get out of my shell and learn to enjoy life. She brought a completely different perspective to everything, and I absolutely loved every second with her! So this is to you Mrs. Jennifer Kremer Oliva- Happy Birthday!! Even though we aren't as in touch with each other as in high school- you still are a best friend. Everytime, literally everytime, I see turtles I think of you!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!