Alex, Ava, and Sarah are the kind of best friends that turn heads, not because they're alike, but because they aren't. From dog training to dominating the wrestling mat to crafting beautiful ceramic pieces, these three girls could not be more different in their passions, but their friendship proves that connection runs deeper than common hobbies.
Alex: The Dog Whisperer
"My name is Alex Nigro, and I'm a seventeen-year-old dog trainer." That sentence alone surprises most people. Alex's love for animals, especially dogs, goes back to her earliest memories. At family gatherings, she gravitated toward pets over people, and her Christmas lists always included a wish for another dog.
At age eleven, she became fascinated by watching her mom train a service dog through Speaking K9. Two years later, she convinced her parents to let her adopt a high-drive German Shepherd named Enzo. It wasn't easy - Enzo was a challenge - but with support from Lindsey Ellis, the head trainer at Speaking K9, Alex learned how to connect through consistency, structure, and respect. Through an apprenticeship, she gained hands-on experience with different breeds and training techniques.
Training dogs, Alex realized, is much more about reading humans than it is about dogs. Teaching owners how to communicate effectively with their pets taught Alex how to communicate with people. Those lessons carried over into her friendships. She knows that, like training, relationships require patience, respect, and a willingness to listen. It's one of the reasons her friendship with Sarah and Ava has remained strong, even when life gets chaotic.
Ava: The Creative Spirit
Art has always been part of Ava's world, woven into everything from the books she reads to the clothes she wears. Surrounded by artists in her family, like her mother and cousins, Ava developed a natural love for creativity. Early memories of seeing her loved ones create art inspired her to try it herself.
Ceramics and jewelry-making came into her life through school and quickly "felt like home." A talented ceramics teacher helped her fall in love with pottery, while her mom supported her jewelry-making journey by providing her with the necessary tools and supplies. Earrings turned into bracelets, and soon Ava was crafting personalized gifts for her friends and family.
To Ava, being an artist means being free to express herself without fear and to create something beautiful from imperfection. "Art isn't always about getting it right the first time; it's about learning from the process." That belief has shaped her view of both art and life.
Ava's friends, Alex and Sarah, are part of her creative journey. They are her rocks- the ones who cheer her on and inspire her to keep creating. Making art for them, whether it's for birthdays, dances, or just because, fills Ava with joy. Seeing their faces light up when she gives them something handmade reminds her of why she loves creating in the first place.
Sarah: The Fierce Competitor
Most people don't expect to see Sarah sweating it out in a wrestling singlet, only to find her later sprinting through a track meet. Athletic, determined, and relentless, she has made a name for herself in two demanding sports: wrestling and track.
She started with a love for soccer, but watching her brothers wrestle inspired her to try it herself. She joined the team in her first year and was hooked. Wrestling gave her a sense of discipline and a sense of belonging. Now she's one of the top female wrestlers at her school, juggling training for national tournaments with running distance races in track and cross-country.
Her schedule is grueling. She wakes up early to run, spends afternoons on the mat, and squeezes in study time, family time, and time with her two poodles. Through it all, her best friends, Alex and Ava, are a constant. After the longest, toughest practices, they're the ones showing up at her door with a smile and a snack.
Wrestling and track have shaped Sarah into someone who doesn't give up on herself or her friends. She brings that same fight into her relationships, showing up when it matters, despite how tired she is.
Together: Stronger
Individually, Alex, Ava, and Sarah are impressive in their own right, but together they're unstoppable in their solo pursuits and as friends. The Publisher of the magazine specifically asked these three to write a story about their differences, yet how their friendship is so strong. The observation was that these three individuals show up for each other, offering support, respect, and understanding, despite their differing hobbies and interests.
Last November, Sarah and Ava turned seventeen. To celebrate, the three friends took an overnight trip to Midway. During dinner, they raised their glasses, filled with sparkling cider, of course, and made a toast to their friendship. One raised the question, "Where will we be in 10 years?" The idea was floated that in ten years, they would need to return to the same restaurant and discuss their journeys: Alex, a doctor; Sarah, an FBI agent; and Ava, creating art, perhaps even in her own studio. Each girl quickly realized that this chapter of being kids would soon come to a close. They will soon embark upon a new chapter, but one thing is sure: they will always remain friends, even through the most challenging moments and the most significant wins.
Art isn't always about getting it right the first time; it's about learning from the process. -Ava-