My “Why ADPi” Always

In life, we have many different paths we can choose to follow. We don’t know where they may lead us, but I can confidently say, I followed the right path because I found my May along my journey.

There is a concept called the butterfly effect where every choice we make in life no matter how small, has a large impact on our trajectory. I think about what if I had chosen to stay in state for college, hadn’t taken Anthropology for my UK gen ed first semester freshman year, hadn’t gone through primary recruitment, and ran home to ADPI. All of these choices, no matter how small or large brought me to May Elizabeth Ison. The girl who would be the only light needed if this world were to go dark one day. The smile I look forward to seeing every single day. Going through primary recruitment I was terrified I wouldn’t find my place or my people but when I walked into Anthropology the day after bid day, wearing my ADPI shirt, I was greeted by the loudest screech and exhilarated smile I have ever received from someone. In that moment I knew I could never go another day without this incredible woman.

Little did I know how much this outstanding woman would change my life. From grabbing coffee together every day after class and talking about our freshman-year boy obsessions to dropping everything the instant I texted her in the hospital at three in the morning. Sitting in that hospital bed wondering if I could do this and questioning everything, my angel arrived in the room. Holding my hand, allowing me to go through all of the emotions no matter how irrational, and allowing me to put the NHL channel on in the hospital room and pretending to care about hockey for me. May Elizabeth Ison is the woman you aspire to be. She has shown me the most unconditional love a friend has ever shown me and inspires me every day to conquer the world with a smile. In moments I don’t find the strength to battle my toughest days, May picks me up despite what is going on in her life and helps me get through it all.

May Elizabeth Ison, the woman you are is truly amazing. As I mentioned earlier, we all have many different paths in life, but I am grateful to say my path will coincide with May Elizabeth Ison’s for the rest of my life. The memories we have made together such as singing at one AM with your pink microphone, being there for each other through our toughest days, being taught about each Rocky movie’s plotline, driving way too fast over that speed bump we forget about every single time when we move our cars to Kroger field after accumulating enough ticket fines to get a boot on one of our cars (whoops), every single moment I cherish with you. To my maid of honor, the auntie to my future children, I love you endlessly.

Your number-one fan

⁃ Colleen O’Meara