I can still remember when I first met Vanessa.  She was not only wearing her high-heeled sneakers and her black leather jacket with her long beautiful curled hair, but she was wearing her contagious smile.  Although Vanessa appeared to be a “badass”, she was one of the nicest, most genuine people I had ever met.  While our friendship started over ASB meetings and planning school events, we quickly bonded freshmen year and started spending much more time together.  Since then, Vanessa has been one of my closest friends.  Throughout high school we would spend the weekends together watching movies, playing guitar hero in her parents’ basement, taking random road trips and becoming a part of her family during the holidays (since her mom would cook for what seemed like 100 people).  Our friendship continued to thrive as we started our college careers at the UW together.  On nights when she was working too hard at school (which was often), she would stay with me in my apartment and we would stay up all night talking about anything and everything.  I love Vanessa’s spontaneous and positive attitude towards life.  She always has that beautiful smile on her face that lights up any room she walks into.  Vanessa is a natural born leader, but one that “flies under the radar.”  She does amazing things for people because she wants to and never expects or wants anything in return.  Vanessa is not only selfless, but she is intelligent, graceful, CRAZY organized and compassionate…. so much that she found another passion in life working with her husband, Steve.   She is the Chief Operations Officer for Global Brigades, their International Non-profit Organization serving some of the most underserved in this world.  Although Vanessa is constantly the most traveled person I know, we continue to talk and see each other as much as we can.  Since the beginning of our friendship, I knew I could always count on her and I can't wait for Vanessa to be standing by my side on my big day.