Sometimes when you meet someone, you don’t realize how important they will become to you. Living in the moment and spending time with them, you don’t necessarily think anything of it. But when you look back and think about your relationship and growth, you understand that there was something special. For Paige and Amanda, this sentiment holds true.

In 2015, Amanda decided to sign up to be a big sister to a Chai Warrior. Paired with Paige, who is six years her junior, they got off to an embarrassing start. The activity – provided by Chai – that Amanda brought to Paige’s house, came without instructions. Trying to make a clay photo frame with no instructions definitely gave Paige an interesting first impression of Amanda, but they laughed about it and it’s since become a long-running inside joke between them.

As is often the case in the “getting to know you” phase, Amanda and Paige’s first few meetings were exactly that—meetings. They were formal as they enjoyed lots of art and other activities together, but the activities acted as a buffer. As time went on, however, their meetings turned into hangouts. They did fewer formal activities and more socializing, getting so close to the point that Amanda even joined Paige on Paige’s middle school grad trip to Montreal! It was a unique bonding experience that truly solidified their sisterhood.