By: Ally Horine | Echo
Transitions are difficult, especially when they mean your friends scatter across the country. Increased distances make staying in touch difficult, and relationships often fade. It has taken effort, but many alumni have managed to maintain strong ties with some of their Taylor friends.
While studying at Taylor, Kevin Diller ('93), associate professor of philosophy and religion, formed a friend group that still meets annually.
"It's sort of a cheesy name, but we call ourselves The Round Table," Diller said.
Life at Taylor for The Round Table started as 10 friends living on Second Bergwall playing pick-up basketball together. Their pick-up games turned into meals together and deep conversations late at night in each other's dorm rooms.
"It was really such a special time in our lives when we would just sit in one of our rooms and debate big ideas and big questions," Diller said.
As they entered their senior year, the group members realized they wanted a more intentional setting for these conversations. Not all 10 graduated in 1993, though; a few, including newly hired Dean of Humanities, Arts and Biblical Studies Mike Hammond, graduated in 1992. Those who graduated sometimes visited, joining The Round Table discussions while on campus.
Though their lives look different now, The Round Table continues to meet annually. The group has downsized a little due to different life circumstances, but six of the members still remain constant. These six are scattered across the country, from Florida to Wisconsin to Ohio.
"We thought we should get together again every year and stay in each other's lives," Diller said. "We would play pick-up basketball, pray for each other and talk about families-that was the heart of it."
The six that still meet are purposeful about it. When they meet, they often gather around each other's cities. If one member lives in or near a city with a baseball team, they'll often try to catch a game.
Spouses and children complicated schedules as time passed, but the group eventually found a solution. Each year The Round Table meets and takes their children with them. The first year they brought their sons, and the following year they brought their daughters. This year is a year for the daughters.
While maintaining a brotherhood like The Round Table isn't possible for everyone, keeping one good friend is. Nicole (Sampley '03) Parker had a good group of friends at Taylor, but due to geographic location and various life events, they haven't all been together since Homecoming in the fall of 2008. She has, however, remained very close to one friend.
Parker and Allison (Hoekstra '03) Weber were tight at Taylor, living together in Fairlane during their junior year before Weber got married.
"Allison and I have this awesome friendship where we make this effort to see each other every year or two no matter where we are," Parker said.
Their friendship has lasted through many miles and location changes. Since graduation, Parker and Weber have actually never lived in the same time zone simultaneously. This hasn't stopped their dedication. A few years ago, Parker was living in Atlanta when she was diagnosed with diabetes, and Weber flew out from Arizona the next day to support her.
When Parker was pregnant with her son Mikey, Weber happened to be visiting California for one day and planned to meet up with Parker. Coincidentally, Parker went into labor on the day she visited, and Weber was present for the birth of her best friend's child.
Because of her relationship with Weber, Parker and her husband decided to make her the godmother of their child.
"She's someone I want in my life forever, and I want her to know my son," Parker said. "We chose someone who we knew would pray over him and be close with him. We hope he can go to her if he can't talk to us about something."
Their friendship has lasted 12 years past Taylor and continues to grow, regardless of proximity to one another. Through the years, the two have learned a few tricks to keeping relationships.
"If you want to make your friendships last, you have to prioritize them," Parker said. "You also have to not get your feelings hurt if you don't talk for a long time. Those are the friends that you can keep even if it's a long time before you see one another."
As seniors leave Taylor, their friendships may not look as though they do now. But with a little effort, they can last longer than the four years.
