“Cold sand through my toes, almost tripping, best friend in arm, eyes covered by a blindfold, never more curios.. and even a little scared.. in my life...” that’s what her best friend was feeling the night that Katrina planned a surprise birthday party for her at Virginia Beach. MaryAnn Jackson will never forget that surprise party. That is just one example of how wonderful Katrina Macaraeg really is.
It would be no surprise to see this beautiful, smiling face everywhere you turn on this campus. Katrina Macaraeg might possibly be the most fun and outgoing girl around. Raised in Newport News, Katrina is a one of a kind girl. She is extremely family oriented, has a slight obsession for fashion, wants to be an ophthalmologist, wishes she carried a small vacuum in her purse, and could very easily become your best friend.
Everyone knows that Katrina would do absolutely anything for her family. Her parents are so supportive of everything that she does and has accomplished. Her older brother is her mentor and very protective of his baby sister. Molly, her younger sister, looks up to her in so many ways and is so grateful to have such a wonderful, “headstrong” sister. Katrina values her family more than anything else and they have been her biggest influence in her life thus far.
Little sister Molly says that she will always appreciate everything that Katrina has done for her. “She is the best older sister that anyone could ask for. No matter how much we bicker, I really do love her,” says Molly. Katrina has been a role model to Molly in so many ways. Katrina says that she respects her sister as she gets older and matures and actually finds it flattering to be Molly’s mentor through life.
There are so many words that could be used to describe Katrina. Friends see her as “loving, sweet, fierce, spicy, and bold.” Those are just a few that MaryAnn shared about her best friend. John Jolissaint, another best friend, adds, “optimistic, honest, sexy, funny, and smart.”
John recalls the day that he first met Katrina. It started with throwing dodge balls at her and ended with Katrina threatening him. John says, “It was basically love at first sight.” He says that he would not be half the person he is today without Katrina. She has taught him so much and has been the most loving and supportive friend that he has ever had.
Some say she is “loyal” others would say she is “caring,” but any way you look at it, Katrina is an amazing friend. She has gone out of her way many times for the happiness of her friends. They can go to her with anything and she will be there with open arms, open ears, words of wisdom, love, and support.
Outsiders may first view her as “just a pretty face” but they will soon realize that she is a genuinely kind-hearted person. She is approachable and easy-going, she has an “infectiously joyous personality” that rubs off onto everyone around her, says best friend John. “Anyone who is around the girl for five minutes loves her,” he adds.
Katrina puts everyone else before herself. She values what other people think and the way that they feel. No matter what, she would drop everything for anyone. But one of her best qualities might be that she is true to herself and does not let what other people say get in her way. She does not judge and does not let other people’s judgments of her bring her down.
Volunteering, just another way that Katrina can give back and help others. She has been volunteering every year since ninth grade and has loved every minute of it. From hospitals, to a hospice, to nursing homes, even Bible school, Katrina has done it all. “I love those kids… they are sooooo much fun,” states Katrina about her third grade Bible School class. Katrina has always loved being the support of her friends, but being the support of complete strangers gives her “a feeling I can’t get anywhere else,” she says.
Katrina is determined and “she has a good head on her shoulders,” states MaryAnn. She has accomplished many things in her life, especially academically. Her friends and family say that they are so proud of all the things that she has accomplished, one of her biggest being accepted
to Virginia Tech. Katrina says, “It was a big step for me, I had no idea where I wanted to go to college… but I love it here, it is absolutely amazing!” And her best friend agrees, “She obviously picked the best school.” But, she also loves it here at Virginia Tech because of football season- and who doesn’t?Ophthalmologist, a.k.a. eye surgeon, is a pretty intense career. Well, that is the career that Katrina Macaraeg has her mindset on. She has the dream of curing every one’s eyesight in order to make life a little easier for them. “Eyesight is so important, so why settle for having to wear glasses or contacts everyday?...what a hassle!” Katrina adds.
If becoming an eye surgeon becomes impossible then Katrina wants to have her own clothing line and boutique. She loves fashion and all the newest and latest trends. Katrina says, “I love seeing people dress nice and show their personality through the things that they wear.” You can tell by looking at her that she definitely has a wonderful sense of fashion and accessories. Fashion is just another passion of Katrina’s.
It is also very important for her to have a steady job and work extremely hard in order to provide for her future family. Which is another thing that she wants in life, a family. Katrina looks forward to finding her “soul-mate” and having a loving family. She wants a family that will continue to support her through everything that she does. Just as she does with everyone else in her life, Katrina will love her family unconditionally and will make “one-helluva-mother,” says MaryAnn.
Soaking up the rays of the sun, laying on a towel on the warm sand, listening to all kinds of music, this is one of Katrina’s favorite things to do. It is her way of relaxing and unwinding. Living so close to Virginia Beach makes this all very easy. The beach is where some of Katrina and her friends have had their fondest moments together. It is the place where some things happened that she will forever remember. “I definitely want to stay close to the beach when I grow up…I am way too used to being able to relax there that I can’t imagine not being able to anymore,” says Katrina.
So who would not want to be this girl’s best friend? She sure wants to be yours. She wants to be everyone’s best friend and give them the most fun they could ever possibly imagine, because she is indeed always making every situation exciting. What a perfect best friend: kind, easy-going, strong-willed, determined, and just simply wonderful.
--by Kerri Moriarty
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