Jenny Poggi

“Think of the happiest things

It's the same as having wings” -Peter Pan

When I was in elementary school, I used to pretend I was a fairy during recess. I convinced a group of girls to play with me. Their names were Allison, Abby, Connie, Emily, and Meg. Everyday, at the beginning of recess, I instructed them to line up behind me. I would lead them off towards the woods, secluded from the other students. We would play games or just hang out, waiting for the whistle to blow. Things are different now. Those girls have changed. I am not close with them any longer. I do not connect with them anymore. They took off their wings.

For the longest time, I was lonely.

Then I found another fairy.
Her name was Jenny Poggi.
She reminded me about how to fly .

Not enough words exist to explain the ways in which Jenny has helped me grow as a person. I became friends with her my freshmen year in high school. I wasn’t expecting her to change my ways.

During freshmen year I was lost, walking down strange streets. I felt alienated every step I took. It was taking me longer to adapt to high school than the other students. Switching schools felt like I was changing cultures. My feet weren’t acclimated to the foreign soil. I was desperate for comfort.
It all started in the lunchroom.
Jenny would float around from one group of girls and boys to the next. I was jealous of her versatile structure. She seemed to have grasped something I could barely reach for. She exuberated confidence and emitted optimistic vibes. I was intrigued. She seemed pure.
I can’t recall how we began talking, but we did. She brought on a whole new realm when it came to the word strange. I remember the first conversation we had. She was talking about how she enjoys picking hairs off of her lower back that had fallen out when she washes her hair in the shower. I was dumbfounded. That was a weird thing to enjoy, and even stranger to admit. She seemed to think nothing of it though.
I remember the first time I heard Jenny giggle really hard. It was a cute and childlike laugh at first. Then unexpectedly she began snorting. It was a giggle then snort, giggle then snort, giggle then snort. It made me laugh, which made her giggle and snort even faster and louder. I did not feeling embarrassed for her. Listening to her felt refreshing.
I don’t know how Jenny did it, but she taught me how to live a fuller life. Although she can’t always provide me with motivation, she can bring me back to the rationality. She pulls me out of my own microcosm and shows me the bigger picture. She has helped me realize that I am in control of myself.
I don’t know how to justly thank her. She has done more for me than she realizes. I just will try to offer her the same nourishment she feeds me.