To My Dead Homie

direct a person who has had a significant influence on you and puff that influence. My breeding changed in September of 2009 when I met my good friend Nate Thomas. It totally began in the Halls of roman print Catholic High School. I had dreamt of the day I could finally wear purple and gold with pride and represent Roman. However, my inaugural day of school was very different than expected. In middle school, I was used to being k instantaneouslyn by fellow students and teachers throughout the hallways, in the cafeteria and on the basketball court, but at Roman I had to show up all over.I was in unfamiliar territory and in need of agile guidance and friendship. On my first day, I was unloading books out of my storage locker, when a 4 foot 2 fellow freshman arrived at the locker next to me to do the very(prenominal). We introduced ourselves and recognize, regardless of our noniceable height difference, that we shared legion(predicate) things in common. From that moment, Na te became one of my best friends and someone I could count on for anything. Nate was born(p) with pulmonary tricuspid atresia, which basi shoot the breezey means he was born with the complete absence of the tricuspid valve.Aside from Nates height, no one could govern he had a congenital heart disease. Nate was not only at any Roman basketball game, but could be heard delighted the loudest in the gym. He never once complained nearly his illness, but instead embraced each day as a gift with a imperious degree spirit. When I faced obstacles or setbacks, Nate was quick to offer guidance not judgement. One of the biggest setbacks for me occurred on the basketball court. As a junior, I was excite to be an upperclassman and help contribute to a talented varsity team.However, to my start I was put on the Junior varsity team. At first, I was discouraged, angry, and an overall miserable person. I thought How could they do this to me? I had unendingly dreamt of being a member of th e Varsity team. My initial reaction of negativism and pity for myself is not something I am proud of as I look back on my experiences. After confiding in Nate about not making Varsity, he asked me How much do I adore playing basketball and what was I willing to do to prove I deserved to be on the Varsity team? I lay downd that was his way of telling me to get over it and work harder. Nate made me realize that all obstacles challenge us and help us stupefy stronger whether it be mentally, physically or twain. I ended up playing both Junior Varsity and Varsity my junior year because of my work ethical code and drive to compete with the best. I credit this to Nate and his ability to make every situation a positive one. As I embark on my senior year at Roman, I begin to reflect on the person I have become today and continue to grow into.Nates guidance, advice and friendship is something I will never forgot nor take for granted. His existent kindness and happiness is something I hope to emulate throughout the years to come. Some would say Nate lost his fight against this illness on stately 13, 2012, but I think through his passing he has leftover an even greater legacy on us all and now continues watching over us and pushing us to live life with his same positive spirit and drive to be the best we can.As I look back on my 3 years at Roman and think about things I considered setbacks, I am able to watch the bigger picture. Yes I was devastated about not initially making the Varsity team, but I now realize it was the bigger picture of not giving up and working hard in a positive way to achieve my goals, which was Nates advice. So while yes Nate and I were the same age and met as two Freshman on the first day of school, he was wise beyond his years and someone I call my friend, mentor, brother, but most of all my hero.