KatieZinna

For seniors, as summer gets near, so does the time to say goodbye to one another. These last couple of months fly by and the lasts that seemed so far away have come and gone. Last prom, last class retreat, last Field Day and, for some, it’s the last time they will go to school and see their best friend walking in the halls. 

Senior Ashley Keenan says that she and senior Torrey McManus “became friends freshman year and have been attached at the hip ever since.” While they don’t have many classes together, they try to spend as much time together as possible outside of school. “We always hang out on weekends and our parents always go out together, like going to concerts and getting food,” McManus said.

When they do get the chance to see each other in school, they “run up to each other, hug and yell,” McManus said. 

 As they get closer to graduation, they reminisce on their past memories at Marian together. 

Both Keenan and McManus say that their favorite memory with each other is when they were on the cover of the Marian magazine together. McManus says, “it was pretty amazing having someone capture that moment of two best friends and our pure happiness together on Field Day to celebrate Marian’s community.”

This upcoming fall, McManus will be attending the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where she has already found a roommate. In regards to splitting up for the new school year, McManus said, “it is a bittersweet feeling. I’m sad to leave Marian and all my best friends, but I can’t wait to start my new chapter, especially with my brother on campus. I can’t wait to meet new people and start new opportunities.”

Keenan will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has found a roommate, as well. As the end of the year gets closer, Keenan says, “I have tried not to think about how we will be so far apart. This summer when I was out of town for three days, I cried because I missed her so much, and I get sad thinking about how we will be six hours away and not go to the same school.”

Before the school year starts, McManus says that she and Keenan are planning to vacation together in Okoboji, something they have done every summer. “So we can soak up the lasting memories,”  McManus said. She’s also hoping they will have time for a senior trip together.

While the start of freshman year is still months away, McManus says “we already have plans to visit each other.” She mentions how Keenan will visit her sometime during her first semester. Keenan says, “I have already started looking for purple outfits to cheer on the Tommies.”

McManus ends with a few words for Keenan. She says, “I want to tell Ashley that I am always only one phone call away and we can send each other millions of Snapchat videos and FaceTime each other on our way to classes and catch up. I love her so much and can’t wait to see what she does at Lincoln.”

Keenan said she wants to tell McManus that, “you’re my best friend ever, and I love you so much. Thank you for always being there for me, supporting me, making me laugh and contributing to my amazing high school experience. I love hanging out with you, getting sweet treats, going to the pool or even just driving around. I am so thankful for you and you are the best friend a girl could ask for. I am sad to think about being far apart from you, but I know we will stay friends forever.”