Choosing Connection in a Disconnected Generation

A video from my senior-season basketball game where I invited Lily onto the court to take a halftime shot. You can hear the entire crowd erupt for her!

My friendship with Lily, who has a rare genetic disorder called STXBP1, has taught me how to form authentic, lasting connections with people whose life experiences differ from my own. I met Lily freshman year of high school, and now as a junior in college, I’ve watched her grow into greater confidence and independence. When we first met, she faced physical challenges and struggled to communicate her thoughts. Over time, she has found her voice, while I’ve grown into adulthood beside her. Even though we developed at different paces, our friendship has shown me how similar our journeys are—two young women rooted in shared milestones and mutual respect.

What makes our friendship meaningful is that I never treated Lily as “different” or limited. Many people with disabilities are underestimated or spoken down to, but I held Lily to the same expectations as any of my friends. We talked about everyday life, crushes, and Taylor Swift, and I expected honesty and kindness from her the same way she expected it from me. Not everyone naturally does this—and I’ve learned it’s a strength of mine. I see people for who they are, not for what others assume.

Lily has taught me patience, resilience, and how much intelligence is overlooked when people aren’t truly listened to. I bring that awareness into every environment I enter. In a generation where many hide behind their phones or dismiss talkative, enthusiastic people as “try-hards,” I do the opposite. I ask questions, make eye contact, and try to understand what others bring to the table. Whether in group projects or talking to the janitor I’ve befriended in the library, I make space for people’s voices.

This ability to build genuine, inclusive connections shapes how I show up everywhere I go and prepares me to work meaningfully with anyone.