Happy Birthday to one of the strongest people I know, Shivani Nelson. Today Shivani turns 21, the big one. It’s her turn to party and celebrate all the joys of the city. Soon we will be clubbing together under the stars. Before that though, I’d like to talk about our story and how we met.
The details of our connection are actually a little fuzzy to me. I remember being in several classes with Shivani, especially the one we later dropped. Our friendship formed during both our first semesters in New York. Shivani and I had similar experiences during our first years of college.
While I was studying in London during the fall of 2023, Shivani was taking a gap year. We both have traveled all around the world, so it’s easy to share the knowledge we garnered during our timezone hopping eras. Shivani and I were just having a conversation about how our ability to travel so young shaped our world view. We both walked into college with an array of skills that are priceless.
As we have continued to build our friendship, I have uncovered the reasons why we work so well together. Shivani is a fighter, and I have always admired this about her. She is fierce and driven. She is a natural leader in many ways, and our energies play tennis with the room.
Shivani is not afraid to be different. Her and I have different taste in clothes, food, and everything in between. We have a conversations about how our views have formed. I enjoy when I am tested by her. It reminds me that she is just as curious as I am. That’s another reason why I am her friend. With Shivani, it is a non-stop adventure.
Shivani cares about the people and animals in her life. She is excited about committing to a cause she feels is important. I have never met someone so ready to drop what they’re doing, travel to a protest, and stay there until change is cemented. She has an ability to light fires that were previously cold.
I admire her ability to connect with her life outside of New York. She is able to go out of the city, meet new faces, and come back with a thousand new stories for us to chat about. We reguarly have debriefs about the world around us, and Shivani is always ready for whatever is thrown her way. No matter where she goes, Shivani is always in the back of my head, especially today.
Happy Birthday Shivani,
TJL