Shoki Se

I wanted to write here to let Jon, the girls, Sandra's parents, and friends know how much Sandra meant to me, and how much I miss her. I didn't take the chance to express this when she passed away last year and I regretted it. So I wanted to share it here. I first met Sandra at Yale. I was a senior and she was a sophomore. I was in a play and she was the make-up artist who did my make-up. We bonded from that and the fact that she was Taiwanese and I was Taiwanese. By second semester of my senior year, I had gotten into medical school, so was cruising and enjoying the rest of my time in college. I remember our friend Jack, also a senior, and I would call up Sandra and invite her to go dancing with us at Bar on "rave" nights. Sandra was always a good sport and went out with us. She kidded with us year later that she got her worst grades in college during sophomore year, and it wasn't a coincidence that it was the year she went partying with us! But she didn't harbor ill feelings, because she would add, "it's all good ... I still got into HBS!" :) Sandra and I then lost touch for some years, but then reconnected. I remember her and Jon's wedding at The Foundry. It was a wedding to remember. I remember mentioning to her later that I wanted to hold my wedding there, too, because it was such a memorable space, not to mention her and Jon's wedding. But I ended up holding mine in New York, but at New Leaf Cafe. Whenever I'd be in NY, I'd try to meet up with Sandra. And whenever we did, it was like not a day had passed since college. She was the same Sandra, always with a big smile on her face and her characteristic voice. Always made me feel like she was happy to see me, like I was an older brother to her. Like her Taiwanese older brother. I still cannot believe that Sandra isn't with us any longer. I still cannot wrap my head around the fact that she is gone. That I will never be able to see my dear dear friend again. I miss you, Sandra. I wish we had more time to see one another, spend time together, catch up with one another. You have always been such a good good friend. Always making the time to listen. I remember the last time we spoke was on a phone call. We had made it a point to set a day and time to catch up. I'm not sure if you were sick then, but you didn't mention anything. I wish you had. It was maybe about a year before you passed. And I'm so happy we had the chance to talk. Happy we made time for that call. Thank you for always making time for our friendship. A friendship that started over 25 years ago and has endured through these years. We all miss you tremendously. I miss you. Thank you for our friendship, dear Sandra, and for the many many fond memories together.