Stephanie was my first best friend. We met in first grade. She introduced herself and asked if I wanted to be best friends and I said yes because who wouldn’t want to be best friends with her? We were so close for years, until she moved when we were in middle school. We lost touch for a long time, but one night when I was in college, my phone rang and it was her. We caught up for hours but lost touch again until social media. 

Seeing that she had achieved her childhood dream of becoming a doctor was so wonderful, but completely unsurprising. She always knew what she wanted and went for it. I live on the east coast now, but always hoped to make it out to see her again and meet her family. I was devastated to look her up today to see how she was doing, only to see the terrible news. My heart is broken. My condolences to Jason, Mason, and everyone who loved her. She was truly a shining light and the world is a little darker without her in it.