Senior Friendships

Lauren+Nieman+and+Corina+Massey

Lauren Nieman and Corina Massey

Isabella McPadden, Staff Writer

Lauren Nieman and Corina Massey

Nieman says, “We first became friends in first grade at Orchard Hills. We have been friends for 10-11 years. My favorite memory is when Corina and I went to North Carolina over the summer of 2018. I will be attending the University of Tampa in Florida and Corina will be attending the University of Connecticut. We are planning to stay close by visiting each other in college and making time during breaks or holidays to hang out.”

Massey says, “My favorite memories with Lauren would be having sleepovers when we were little and telling ghost stories. I enjoyed going camping in Girl Scouts together and talking about how bad the food tasted, going to North Carolina for a week, and being able to go shopping and relax at the pool. Having paint night and making crafts are especially fun because it allows us to express ourselves creatively while still being able to hang out. I plan on staying close with Lauren. Since we have been friends for so long it would be hard to imagine not having her as someone I can talk to. I know she will always have my back.

 

Will Phelan and Andrew Janik

Will Phelan and Andrew Janik

Janik says, “Will and I first became friends when we were five years old. We both attended trinity day school preschool. We have been friends for 13 years. My favorite memory with Will is kind of hard to choose but I’d have to say our summer vacation to Myrtle Beach last year. Next year I’ll be attending StoneHill College and Will will be attending Providence College. We have already started talking about when we will visiting each other’s school next year. We will definitely be best friends through college and even past that.”

Phelan says, “We became friends in preschool at Trinity Day School. That’s about 14 years. My favorite memory with him was when I would beat him in Madden every time we played. My future plans are to become a well-rounded man, while his are not looking too hot. I plan on staying close, but not too close because he smells.”

 

 

Nicole North and Isabella McPadden

Nicole North and Isabella McPadden

“Nicole and I have known each other since kindergarten. We became really close in second grade. I have so many fun memories with Nicole. Being in the same kindergarten class, she would get really annoyed when I rolled onto her blanket during naptime… I am definitely still just as annoying. In the fall, I will be attending Pennsylvania State University to study elementary education and Nicole will be attending Bryant University in Rhode Island to study business. While we will definitely be far away from each other, I know we will always be lifelong friends!”

According to North, “We met in kindergarten but became friends in second grade. We have been friends for 13 years now. My favorite memory is when we were kids we used to make iMovies together at my house and play Wii for hours. My future plan is to go to Bryant University in Rhode Island and Bella will be going to Penn. State, so, unfortunately, we will sorta be far, but we’re going to make sure to visit each other!”

 

Trevor Hitchcock and Casey Coon

Trevor Hitchcock and Casey Coon

According to Hitchcock, “We became friends in kindergarten. Our teacher was named Mrs. Alderman and we sat at the same table. My favorite memory together was when we went to Arizona. We visited the grand canyon and saved a lot of time and money while doing it. Casey and I went to Six Flags a bunch of times together in middle school, which was also really fun.”

Coon says, “We have been friends for about 13 years. Trevor is going to Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania where he is going to study computer sciences and he is also going to be a part of their track team. I will be attending the University of Connecticut at the Storrs campus to study music education. I will also be in the marching band at UConn. We plan on staying close even though we are going to be pretty far away from each other in college because we’ve been friends for 13 years. We’ve been friends for that long, so why not be friends for longer?”

 

Roma Ubaldi and Clea O’neil

Roma Ubaldi and Clea O’neil

According to O’Neil, “Roma and I first met when we were very young but became actual friends in middle school. We have been friends for around six years! Crazy right? Time flies! Roma is a lifelong friend man- I’ll be in touch with her and Kerri forever! Love the Ubaldi’s!”

Ubaldi says, “We first became friends in sixth grade. We have been friends for six years. My favorite memory with Clea is all the concerts we’ve been to together. I plan on going to college at the University of Rhode Island and Clea will be attending Skidmore College and I would love to still stay close!”

 

Lucas Burgard and Vaishnavi Bulusu

Lucas Burgard and Vaishnavi Bulusu

Bulusu says, “We first became good friends in 8th grade even though we have known each other for much longer. My favorite memories are when we created the World Culture Club together, and we also love trying new and different foods and hanging out together. Our future plans are going to college but we hope to visit each other at college and keep in touch!”

 

Carly Whelan and Abigayle Mitchell

Carly Whelan and Abigayle Mitchell

Mitchell says, “We first became friends in elementary school at Calf Pen Meadow. We have been friends for 13 years. My favorite memory together is when we would spend our whole summers together and I almost never came home because I was always at Carly’s or with Carly. My future plans are attending Sacred Heart University to find out what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

 

 

 

 

Anthony Capua and Bryant Wardman

Anthony Capua and Bryant Wardman

Capua says, “We first became friends in kindergarten, we’ve been friends for 12 years, going to Florida by ourselves right before they shut down everything for quarantine, yes, Both of us are staying relatively local for college and plan on hanging whenever we can.”

 

 

Jason Olexovitch and Tyler Griffin

Jason Olexovitch and Tyler Griffin

Griffin says, “We first met in 2nd grade. We started becoming good friends in 4th grade. Favorite memories: a trip to Philly, Yankees games…. I’m attending Trinity College in Hartford to play baseball and yes I plan on staying close.” Olexovitch will also be attending Hofstra University in New York this fall. 

 

 

 

 

 

Kayla Becker and Lily Smith

Kayla Becker and Lily Smith

Becker says, “We first became friends at the little white house in preschool. We have been friends since pre school (15 years!) My favorite memory of us together is definitely just driving around in the car while we have the volume on blast! We both are attending johnson and wales university in Rhode Island, Lily is going for culinary and I’m going for criminal justice. It’s two different campuses, but we plan on rooming together!”

Smith says, “We first became friends in preschool at the little white house. We have been friends for 15 years. Ever since preschool we’ve been inseparable! My favorite memory of us together is definitely going to xfinity concerts in the summer. We are both going to johnson and wales university in Rhode Island, Kayla is going for criminal justice and I’m going for culinary nutrition. It’s two different campuses but we plan on being roommates!”

 

 

Alexis Burwell and Grace Lavallee

Alexis Burwell and Grace Lavallee

Burwell says, “I think we became good friends in 5th grade, but we definitely had classes together before that! We’ve been friends ever since then. We definitely had times when we were super close and then we drifted apart for a while and that’s just high school I guess but now we’re the closest we’ve ever been! I don’t know if I can think of a favorite memory, but all the little things we do together we always have fun. Whether it’s getting McDonald’s and slushies together or just driving around we always have a great time. I’m planning to attend the University of New Haven where I plan to major in criminal justice! And luckily Grace and I will just be a train ride apart from each other!”

Lavallee says, “I think we first became best friends in 5th grade and have gotten to become extremely close now that we are seniors in high school!! There have been times where our friendship fizzled out but we always find our way back to each other, and now we’re inseparable. I don’t know what I would do without her and her craziness. We have so many amazing memories it’s so hard to pinpoint just one because every time I’m with her we have so much fun. I love beach routing, having picnics on the beach, going to every playground in Milford or West Haven, and all the little things we do together. I got lucky enough to go to Florida with her in November, so that was definitely a memory I’ll never forget!! My future plan is to attend the University of Rhode Island, and thankfully Lex will only be a train ride away at UNH! I couldn’t imagine my life without her so I definitely think we will stay close regardless of where we may end up!”