Dedicated to Tya

I met Tya my freshman year of college at Mesa State. She was actually the FIRST friend I made at Mesa. I was sitting outside of Tolman Hall alone and scared. I remember sitting there on that bench praying God if you are real please let me make a friend here. About a minute later Tya walked up all confident and spunky and said "Hi I'm Tya!"

The next thing I knew she was leading me through the court yard where we stopped to meet every person we passed. I went to Mesa not knowing a soul and left two years later with a girl I can call my sister in Christ. After that first day and later on in the semester she became my next door neighbor and we had English class together every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In our dorm we had some memorable times like: watching RENT, dying my hair blue and ruining the shower (sorry third floor girls), and  the time I stole her roommates keys just so I could hit her with a pillow...she came back at me with a breakfast bar. Then in class Tya inspired me with her writings and introduced me to one of my greatest loves, slam poetry. After class we would go have shenanigans as Tya would call it - basically we went to eat lunch. Freshman year passed and summer came and went. Then sophomore year me and Tya lived in different dorms (it was weird). We didn't see each other as much but when we did it was always that much more special. Then second semester sophomore year Tya accepted Christ and we started to have similar friends. We even went on a retreat together up in the San Juan's. Then she informed me she was joining the NAVY and she had me work out with her at the gym to start getting in shape. I thought I was going to die. My abs were sore for a week but she kept pushing me and I kept pushing her.

Now, this beautiful and brave young woman is in the Navy and left for Chicago six days ago. I heard the song posted up above tonight and immediately thought of Tya. My Grandpa was in the Navy During WWII and I am very thankful for the men and women who have joined it and served our country. I love my friend Tya!

-A