Juniors find comfort in each other’s company

Juniors Finn Campbell and Atticus O’Brien have been friends since third grade and have made countless memories as they’ve grown up together.

O’Brien still remembers the playground misunderstanding and discussion that led to the pair’s friendship.

“[We met] at recess. This kid punched [Campbell] in the back,” O’Brien said. “He turned around, and I’m standing there and he thought it was me. I was like, ‘I didn’t punch you,’ and he had on a Spider-Man shirt, so I was like, ‘I like your shirt,’ and we became friends.”

Over time, the friends were able to mature and bond over more meaningful connections.

“Obviously, we grew with age,” O’Brien said. “In kindergarten, this kid had heard of Guns N’ Roses, so me and him were best friends. Now there are political affiliations, there are things that exist that people base a lot more friendships off of. There’s, socially, a lot more going on than in third grade.” 

According to Campbell, his friendships like his friendship with O’Brien are important because they allow him to be himself.

“I think friends are extremely important because not only is it important to be close with your family and the people that are blood to you, but it’s also important to have separate relationships,” Campbell said. “You can’t talk about everything with your family. Sometimes you need somebody that will just listen and won’t judge you at all.”

“I think friends are extremely important because not only is it important to be close with your family and the people that are blood to you, but it’s also important to have separate relationships,” Campbell said. “You can’t talk about everything with your family. Sometimes you need somebody that will just listen and won’t judge you at a

Campbell believes that the pair have a good relationship because they avoid drama.

“I don’t remember a single time we’ve gotten into a fight,” Campbell said. “It’s never been anything serious because we’re not dramatic.”

O’Brien agrees, saying that the “closest [Campbell and O’Brien] got to not being friends” was when they went to different middle schools and could not interact as often.

Without Campbell, O’Brien believes he would be different and have different interests because Campbell has introduced him to so many things over the years.

“[Campbell] showed me a bunch of video games I like, a bunch of music I like, a bunch of stuff that I just wouldn’t have found on my own,” O’Brien said. “We’ve known each other for so long that the butterfly effect is so big.”