In my younger days, the name Katie Bolka was capable of releasing butterflies into my stomach and turning my knees into jell-o. She had such an integral role in my childhood, that I know I would not be the same person I am today without having known her. She was the first true love of my life. In second grade I was always consumed with thoughts of how I could get her attention or how I could get her to pick on me some more. I would always feel true happiness when she chased or teased me. I remember a specific time when a change in the seating chart led to Katie and I sitting next to each other and we both broke out in laughter with thoughts of the flirting that was to come.
Our relationship matured as we grew older. Katie and I had a very similar sense of humor. Often in class when something happened that I found funny, I knew that if I looked to Katie she also would be trying to keep from laughing out loud. In eighth grade another shift in the seating chart in Miss Oliver’s English class found Katie and myself matched together once again. Katie and I were often scolded for whispering to one another. Another memory of our time together at Christ the King was when Katie invited my family to her house for dinner, I considered this to be a substantiation of our friendship over the years and a foundation for the continuing of our relationship.
In high school, Katie was my reality check and relief from the superficiality and ridiculousness that high school brings. I could always count on finding Katie towards the outskirts of dances where we would then proceed to rant on the moral injustices that we found dances to be. With all of the cataclysmic changes that high school brought, Katie remained a moral constant for me, innocent but at the same time always questioning the way things were. I felt that we had many similarities and loved her individuality, quirky sense of humor, and shy nature. We could go for periods of time without talking, but whenever I saw her for the first time in a while I would always smile because of that same mischievous look on her face which I had known for so long, and we would talk as though we had seen each other the day before.
Of all of the people I have met during my life, I can confidently say that Katie was among the few people that I could relate to on almost every level. She always made me feel good about myself, and was someone that always told me how proud of my accomplishments she was. I think of her constantly, and I plan to live my life to best that I am capable of because of her. The way in which she dealt which her passions motivates me to be the best person I can be and live a life that she would be proud of.
