Seinab Mohamed

It is safe to say that 8-year-old me and 18-year-old me are complete opposites. 8-year-old me was overly sensitive, extremely shy, and ridiculously introverted. You’re probably wondering how I managed to even find a friend -let alone a best friend- with all of the welcoming traits I had.

My good old best friend, Yasmin, is a huge part of why I am who I am today. The story of how we met is like no other. It was a hot, sunny day in June of 2008 and I was at the local recreation center enjoying a cool, refreshing swim. I had seen her and her sisters there a few times before, but as you can probably guess, I never spoke to her. I was supposed to be keeping track of the time but I sadly have the eyesight of a bat. Although the thought of asking someone for the time was a tad bit scary, the thought of my mom coming back to find me still in the pool was even more frightening. Who would have known one conversation about time would lead to an everlasting friendship full of new memories, tear-jerking laughter, and endless adventures.

At that time, we were polar opposites. Over the past ten years, I have taken on a few of her lovely characteristics such as being open-minded, daring, and more engaging in new scenes. There are a few that I have picked up on my own such as being bold and learning to not be afraid of the unknown.

The journey from innocent Seinab to goofy, sassy Seinab is one that is far from over. As time goes by, and you constantly surround yourself with new environments and people, you will realize that change and adaptation are inevitable in this thing we call life.