Acknowledgments

Some girls are lucky enough to have a BFF. Some are lucky enough to have sisters. I'm one of the luckiest to have a sister who happens to be both. It's hard to imagine a life without my younger sister, and I always knew there was no one who could take her place as my maid of honor even long before I ever met my future husband. Caterina is an engineer where she puts to good use her talents in both STEM and the arts. She also happens to be the biggest sea animal lover I know second to her fiance, Daniel. When she isn't busy blowing up my phone with inside jokes and Instagram memes, you can often find her collecting stuffed sharks or creating almost any kind of artwork that sparks her curiosity.

It's a younger sister's job to annoy her older brother, and Mary takes this job very seriously. I'm happy to say that after my wedding day, I will not only gain a sister but someone to always take my side, sorry Ulysses. Mary's other jobs include studying to become a killer geneticist, crotchet, and most importantly one upping her brother. Because let's be honest, she's clearly the superior sibling.

Ohana means family. Cousins are like your extended siblings and it's hard to say it's truly a holiday or celebration without them. Mia is the cousin who always brought a positive attitude and good vibes. She brings a little sunshine wherever her carefree spirit goes. And in case you're wondering what the Hawaiian is for, I promise it is relevant, because this cousin of mine is currently chilling in Aloha state where the atmosphere is as warm and bright as her.

Aleks is proof that true bonds are formed between students who survive organic chemistry together. In our shared misery, I gained a lifetime friend with one of the most exuberant and brilliant people I know. Not everyone can say they are friends with an FBI PhD student, but I certainly can, because with Aleks, the sky is the limit. Whether it is exploring new recipes, singing along to her favorite musicals, or planning her next adventure, Aleks is so full of life that it's no surprise how much joy she brings to all in her life.

We all have that one friend from our old job that we still wish we worked with. With her bold, open, and adventurous spirit, Lex quickly became one of my closest friends as we were both interns in the same lab at the National Institutes of Health. We all need at least one friend who challenges us to venture beyond our comfort zones. Although I miss my old lab buddy I know that she is off to greater expeditions like starting off her scientific career as a neuroscience PhD at Yale University and completing her mission to visit all seven continents and as many countries as possible!

Nestor is the type of person who thinks it's appropriate to send a picture of himself holding a sword and shield when we specifically asked for "a semi-professional portrait."

Anthony is the only person I know that's crazy enough to take up a hobby called ultramarathoning. These are people who finished a marathon and had the bizzaire notion to ask, "what's next?"

"It's hard being the coolest sibling, but somebody's gotta do it."

Ekansh works with me as a fellow researcher at NYU. I knew Ekansh would be a great addition to the wedding party ever since he first said, "Oh, you're getting married? Can I be a part of the wedding party?"

Brent is also working towards a PhD in computer science. Unfortunately, his degree is cooler than mine since he gets to play with robots and I don't.