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So I have no clue how to start this kind of speech, not to mention I
have stage fright. How do you sum up 21 years in just a couple of minutes?
There’s no way I could say all that I want. We’d be sitting here forever
if I did and in the end there are no words to really express how I feel,
but I’ll try my best. As all of you know, Linda was a brilliant student,
excellent friend, and all around great girl. I don’t mean to sound trite
when I say all this but she lives up to everything I have to say about her.
She had a giving heart, cared deeply for her friends, and even those people
she didn’t know. That is what I’ll remember most about her.
I had taken many things for granted in my life, like her friendship. Until
now thinking back, I never realized how deep an impact she had in my life.
From staying up until 4 in the morning doing homework together, to just
having a friend to grab a midnight snack with, she always pulled my spirits
up. She provided a listening ear whenever I had a problem. While studying
for finals, she made those Tollhouse cookies where all you needed to do
was break them apart and bake them and yet she was still so proud of not
burning them. She loved food and she loved to eat. She’s the only person
I know who, last year at spring fair, got that humongous bag of kettle corn
and ate almost all of it. I’ve never seen anyone eat so much kettle corn
and have always wondered where it all went. I’ve never met anyone who loved
Boone’s Farm and UniMini as much as she did. She was the one who introduced
me to the goodness of the egg and cheese sandwich there. But most
significantly, she also introduced me to a lot of other great people, who
I now call friends.
My life has been enriched by knowing her. My college experience would surely
not have been the same if I had not known her. And I don’t think I will ever
feel closure because I will forever wonder why this happened – why such a
sweet and wonderful person could have lost her life at such a young age.
But I have come to learn an important lesson in appreciating your friendships,
and all the bonds you make.
To Linda’s family, my deepest sympathies for your loss.
And to Linda, you were always the best friend anyone could ask for, and I will miss you.
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