Remembering Alyssa Renee Ramirez

You know, there’s something to be said about friends. You aren’t born into loving them, and you aren’t forced to spend time with them; you pick them, and for some seemingly unknown reason, they pick you back. They’re the people that always have your back, and that love you not because they have to, but they want to. So when you lose one, it can feel like you lose everything. Losing Alyssa has been one of the most intense, terrifying and sobering experiences of my life; I miss her so much already, and despite the fact that she wouldn’t want us to be sad, it’s so hard not to be. In order to truly mourn her death, we must celebrate the incredible life she led.

The thing about Alyssa Renee Ramirez is that she is a beautiful person, inside and out. Sure, that can be said about anyone; however, I can speak with confidence on the behalf of this entire community that it is one hundred percent true. Everyone says that her smile could light up an entire room, and that her laugh was infectious; it may seem like such a cliché thing to say, but no truer words have been said. You could catch sight of her beaming, and you’d see everyone around her following suit. There’s also the fact that she could get along with everybody; she tried to make everyone feel accepted, and loved others with a passion that I still cannot comprehend. That passion was carried over into other things, as you could see in her love of tennis and being a leader in the school and community. But my favorite thing about Alyssa has to be her love for God. The girl was practically a walking Bible, and that’s the one thing I will never forget about her. She loved God and His word so much, and she was not scared of sharing it with the world. She had His fire in her, and it warms my heart that she got to share it with all of us before He called her home to Him.

Even though we all know that she is in a better place than we are, it’s hard to forget. It is so hard to move on, to enjoy these last few weeks without one of my best friends by my side, and I know that graduating without her is going to be tough on all of us. But I want my classmates to know that we can do this, if we can stay together. Losing Alyssa has rocked this town to its core, and I can feel her absence in my bones. I know we’ve lost so much already, with DJ, Travis, and Ms. Sessions; but if we can all remember that they’re watching over us now, then we can draw strength on that. Say your prayers, send your condolences, and show the Ramirez family the love and support I know this town is capable of.  Just remember to love more, to love better, as Alyssa always did; and please, remember to love in the present tense. It’s not that I loved her; it’s that I still do. In order to love better, you have to love in the present tense, and I’m sure that’s what Alyssa wants for us all.

Alyssa, thank you so much for picking me back. These last six years I got to spend with you by my side have been the biggest blessing, and while I’m going to miss you so much down here, I know you’re enjoying your everlasting eternity in peace. Also, I’m positive that as I write this you’re playing with kittens and eating your beloved tuna that you know I hated. You are beautiful inside and out, and I love you more than you know. Rest easy pretty girl; I’ll see you again soon Red.