2 years and 3 months. That’s how long it’s been since the last I saw a dear friend from college, Allie Sanford. And if you’re really close to me, you know that I call her AK.
This past weekend, I had the chance to visit AK in her home city aka the Music City. The quickest trip ever but every second counts and we don’t have enough time in this world.
Some wonder and ask how am I able to keep in touch with people. The story of how AK and I’s friendship took off is important to understand of why I value investing in authentic relationships. Also, revisiting how I was active in Catholic Campus Ministry during undergrad.
It all started in 2019. I’m a junior in college studying in China for the summer. Some friends from home and Malaysia flew out to visit me in Beijing. My former FOCUS missionary who was at my campus for 2 years of my college career had told me “I know who’s replacing me on campus. And you’ll never believe her name and background.” Another student athlete, another tall blonde, and another person named Allie. While my UNF friends were looking up AK’s tennis stats, I have to admit that I went straight for her social media. I know what you’re thinking, but come on y’all we just wanted to do a quick background check.
It’s the beginning of the fall semester, and our paths have crossed at a tabling event at UNF’s student union. We traded numbers and we set some time up for coffee and donuts for some one on one time. Long story short, the rest is history. From conferences in Phoenix, a day at the Springs, random heart to hearts, attending my banquet, Universal Studios, playing phone tag, in such a short time, we instantly connected. And where my admiration and gratitude comes from deep within my right ventricle, is that AK was and still is the person who pushed me out of my comfort zone. The person who gives me hope and encourages me from miles away. The friend who reminds me that I’m worth more than I tell myself I am and that I need to give myself a break to stop being so hard on myself in everything I do. The friend who’s not afraid to speak honesty and truth, but it’s different because it’s not out of spite or bitterness, but out of love and respect. I always saw her as an older sister figure and truthfully, I was always impressed with how similar our lives were. I’m in firm belief we were almost the same person but one of us is Filipino and white, and one grew up in the East coast and the other in the West coast. We both had an older sister who joined FOCUS, we both helped our families get more involved in the church, we share the same struggles and battles, and the same perspective on prayer and goals. I still can’t believe sometimes we stayed in touch all these years.
The minute I got off the plane this past weekend, it was 7 in the morning and AK asked if it’s cool we go to daily Mass at 8. I was not expecting that, but here I was fresh off the plane in joggers and a sweater about to walk into church. Then we walked 2.5 miles around the McCabe Golf Course. It doesn’t end there. I joined her and her friends and played frisbee, which by the way, don’t underestimate the game I’m exhausted and so sore from all the sprinting. It’s literally like football without the tackling. The Jamie 4 years ago would have cried and pouted her way out of all these things. I mean who goes to Nashville to play sports, board games, and go to church? Let’s not forget about how I was playing pickle ball and drinking mocktails at Kid’s Rock on Broadway just hours before my flight home. I knew whatever joy or fuel I have been longing for, this was it. This all goes back to my appreciation for how AK pushes me out of my comfort zone. I don’t even think she knows how she does this because she’s a natural leader and looks after everyone’s wellbeing. The last time I visited her in 2020, she had also made us run 2.5 miles around the same golf course. My dear friends, don’t be friends with athletes if you’re not prepared for the bonus hang out activities. AK is not the first who’s made me workout on a vacation.
We might not see each other often, text on the daily, or be on social media right now to stalk each others lives, but no matter how much time passes we pick right back up where we left off. One of my best friend’s in Jax challenged me not to define happiness as a person or place. The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are, and not who people think you are. I wish I recorded game night, because I haven’t laughed like that in so long. And not just a giggle, but the type of laugh where I couldn’t catch my breath and our laughs shook the table. If AK has taught me anything throughout the years, it’s the joy that defeats even this moment of us laughing exhaustively is the joy from Above. When we learn to love ourselves and take care of ourselves, our lives will fall into place exactly how God plans it to be.
Thanks for everything, AK. Love you long time. I’ll be back soon.
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Jamie Vergara 