Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
A Tribute to Amanda Johnstad
On Wednesday, April 1st, 2009; Eastview High School mourned the loss of one of its most outgoing and loved students. This beautiful and happy senior was Amanda M. Johnstad. Amanda came to our district in second grade at Oak Ridge Elementary. That was the same year we met, and we didn’t really like each other. We fought, called each other names; we were just two complete opposites. In fourth grade we were put into the same class again and that year something had changed. We had grown up and matured, we became best friends. She became my very first best friend. And we stayed that way for a couple years. But as the years went on, as we grew and matured, as we changed from elementary school to middle school and then to high school, we started to grow apart. We made new friends and hung out with different groups of people. We passed each other in the halls and we stop to say hi and talk for a bit. She was still the way I remembered her; loud, outgoing, happy, always joking around, smart, beautiful, etc, but most importantly unique. And that’s not even the half of it. There are so many good things about her and not enough positive word to fulfill them. Yet, not one of any of the words people could think of could describe Amanda Johnstad.
Amanda Johnstad had a lot of friends. She was known by almost all of Eastview’s student body. She had her own way of doing things. It was very hard to hear that she’s not coming back. Once the teachers were left to relay information about Amanda after the announcement, I left my fourth hour to do some work with my case manager and wasn’t able to hear about it. I had no idea it was her. I then got a text from my friend Melanie Moser, who has also known Amanda since second grade, telling me about it. I was shocked as everyone else at EVHS was. I don’t remember making it to the classroom. I ended up in the commons and then the Media Center where Amanda’s friends were making slips of paper with comforting and spiritual words about Amanda. I was debating about going to Amanda’s service. I hadn’t talked to her in awhile until the day before that day at the end of 7th hour. But then I realized that that didn’t matter. Amanda and I had a past, and her family could use all the support they could get. Amanda said she didn’t want people to wear black to her funeral. I may listen to her. There are shirts being made with her face on the front and you can choose the color for $20. I’m going to buy a neon green one and wear it with black slacks.
To Amanda Johnstad, I’m not good at goodbye letters. I’m not good with the whole emotional crap either. But you were a big part of my life growing up. I will never forget you. You will always be missed. You will always be remembered. You are loved by many, hated by none. And you will forever be in our hearts.
Amanda Johnstad had a lot of friends. She was known by almost all of Eastview’s student body. She had her own way of doing things. It was very hard to hear that she’s not coming back. Once the teachers were left to relay information about Amanda after the announcement, I left my fourth hour to do some work with my case manager and wasn’t able to hear about it. I had no idea it was her. I then got a text from my friend Melanie Moser, who has also known Amanda since second grade, telling me about it. I was shocked as everyone else at EVHS was. I don’t remember making it to the classroom. I ended up in the commons and then the Media Center where Amanda’s friends were making slips of paper with comforting and spiritual words about Amanda. I was debating about going to Amanda’s service. I hadn’t talked to her in awhile until the day before that day at the end of 7th hour. But then I realized that that didn’t matter. Amanda and I had a past, and her family could use all the support they could get. Amanda said she didn’t want people to wear black to her funeral. I may listen to her. There are shirts being made with her face on the front and you can choose the color for $20. I’m going to buy a neon green one and wear it with black slacks.
To Amanda Johnstad, I’m not good at goodbye letters. I’m not good with the whole emotional crap either. But you were a big part of my life growing up. I will never forget you. You will always be missed. You will always be remembered. You are loved by many, hated by none. And you will forever be in our hearts.
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