Memories That Endure
Over the next few pages, NPEP students and those who knew Katrina share their heartfelt memories.
The Butterfly Effect
A poem in remembrance of a dear friend and classmate, Katrina.
The wings are a florescent green.
Shades of blue and orange illuminate its soul
And improve its ability to smell, hear, feel the company it is attracting.
The constant fluttering resembles the everlasting laughter that penetrates the ears—
a contagious giggle amongst its loved ones and peers.
Never allowing occupied space, filled with cruelty and desperation from time lost, to clip
the pennons that help propel its life beyond the barbed wire.
A seasonal life span adjudicated and determined ... a farce.
The universe has offered its own conclusion—
life amongst family is the proper solution,
Everlasting.
— Elbonie Burnside
Unnecessary Jitters
Sitting on the cold reddish brick, we snickered like elementary school girls sitting on the swings at recess. We expressed our anxieties about NPEP interviews—did we think we made the cut? Caramel and vanilla smiles of happiness unite us with the first cohort for the 2023 winter classes.
“We made it!” I said to Katrina.
“I knew we would,” she responded calmly. “Why wouldn’t we?”
— Jeanine Elam
My friend Katrina...
was surprisingly funny. Her quick wits could put a smile on anyone’s face. Her playful demeanor is just one of the countless qualities I’ll miss. She was understanding and wise beyond her years. She was great at offering advice. Her favorite words of wisdom were “Don’t worry. It will all work out.” She’d complete a project just hours before it was due but in the end, just as she said, it all worked out.
One of the last group projects we did in our Leadership Principles class was to choose two influential leaders and prepare a presentation identifying leadership traits. Our group of three chose leaders no one would expect. The first was Nero, a Roman emperor; we figured he couldn’t have been all bad. The second was a fictional character who was, nonetheless, a great leader—Mufasa, the Lion King.
About two weeks before our project was to be presented, Katrina’s housing unit was quarantined due to cases of COVID. Luckily for us, no one else tested positive on her unit, the quarantine was over on the day of the presentation, and Katrina showed up for class. She excitedly produced a huge poster board with full descriptions of our two chosen leaders’ attributes and an array of their photos. Vanecha and I were shocked.
Katrina had the perfect excuse to sit back. Instead, she did everything in her power to remain part of the team. Everyone loved the presentation, and we were given a well-deserved A. Her words of wisdom rang loud and true in this instance: “Don’t worry, it’ll all work out.”
Katrina’s favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heads and minds through Christ Jesus.”
— Margaret DeFrancisco
If you knew the Katrina Giles that I knew, then you would probably agree she wouldn’t want her loved ones to be sad in her wake but to be celebrating her memories instead! Katrina has always played a major role in the lives of her friends and family because she was such a star. Now Katrina’s burning star and every memory we have of her will be etched on our hearts forever.
— Senisha Carter
Katrina
Katrina Giles is to me
like the most colorful leaf on the tree.
She is the brightest part of the sun,
always there when I need someone.
Even in her pain and suffering,
she was still the one
doing the comforting.
I will forever believe she was on this earth
an angel in disguise
She was unusually special; you could see it in her eyes.
Her friendship touched me in a way that no other has,
in a way that no other will,
so loving, accepting and unconditional.
Katrina Giles to me
is a prime example
of everything we should strive to be.
I will always remember and love you, Katrina!
May you be at peace now.
Save a spot on our friends couch for me.
— Tiffany Fassler
Katrina
Katrina was a beautiful soul. Her spirit was contagious. Whenever I was around her, she had a smile on her face, and you couldn’t help but smile too. She was a complete angel, and she has forever left a print on my heart. She will be missed, but her memory will be forever.
— Diandra ‘Dion’ Samuels
Trina’s Memory
Trina’s memory will always be alive in my heart. She was a positive light wherever she went. She would brighten anyone’s day, a true definition of sunshine. She was always full of love and joy. I am blessed to have known her.
— LaTosha Howard
For Katrina
It is not often that we meet spirits like yours—spirits that stay with us, reminding us that we can be more. Dear friend and sister, as our hearts ache, you have taught us to love still. Your laughter, your smile, your willingness to try will be missed.
We will speak your name in all spaces. We will speak your name with love and sincerity.
Rest in power dear friend.
— Erika Ray
Kind-Hearted
Adventurous
Tough
Rare
Intelligent
Noble
Angel
My dear friend Katrina, thank you for being there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for all the good times and fun memories we were able to make in this dark place. You are and will always be a bright light in this dark world. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten. I love you, friend.
— K. Wright
Trina
You are the most beautiful soul to have walked the earth, and I am honored to have been your friend. We met in a low place, but we found a true friendship and formed a tight bond—one that cannot be broken and no one can take away. The lives you have touched are countless. Your kind heart and soft spirit had a way of bringing a peaceful calm to everyone around you.
Your strength is something I will always admire. When the world was crashing around you, you still stood strong, wanting to make sure everyone else was okay. I’ve been replaying some of our most recent conversations over and over in my mind, and I can say they have been the deepest and most heartfelt talks we’ve had—raw and uncut, vulnerability at its finest! I will carry those with me forever!
Thank you for letting me be a part of your world. Thank you for always being my voice of reason when nothing around me made sense. I love you. I miss you. I promise to always carry you in my heart.
— Shawnette Green
When I met Katrina Giles at work, I knew she was special. Her positive spirit radiated in everything she did. It wasn’t until I got to know her more personally that I found out how jubilant she actually was. Happy and triumphant are the perfect words to describe Trina during her life. What makes her even more impressive was that she stayed the same way, even during the darkest times.
I aspire to be half of the woman Trina was, and if I can accomplish that, then I will have accomplished so many things to celebrate. Personally, I have not always been astute when choosing who to have in my life and who to keep around me. With Trina, I hit the lottery! I gained a person who received and gave intelligent conversation; I gained a teacher and a mentor; I shared many beautiful moments and memories with her; and in my heart these things have not been lost in her passing. The loyalty and respect she has shown to me has earned her a permanent place at my table. Forever I miss her, love her, and cherish her. I appreciate her for being herself and never having a negative word or action toward anyone.
Trina, thank you for blessing me by being a part of my life.
— Savannah Weiss
What Does Love Look Like?
What does love look like? It looks like what Katrina Giles displayed every day: kindness, caring, thoughtfulness, and much compassion toward others. I never witnessed an angel walk this earth until meeting her. Katrina contributed so much to other people’s lives. She loved to offer help and support people in a way that they knew she was there. It was clear that Katrina was a walking vessel from the pages of the good book, the Bible. Everyone felt welcome when they met her. She understood we were all at different places and stages in life. She met you where you were, with no judgment. You were able to feel comfortable in her presence.
Katrina knew who she was, and she took pride in everything she did. She loved to learn on a daily basis. She was grateful for each day she woke up. She always formulated a plan and brought it to fruition—even to her last days on earth. Katrina was OK with God’s plan. Katrina’s journey was fulfilled, and it was her time to receive her angel wings.
We have all been affected by Katrina’s situation, which came out of nowhere. She brought so much hope into our lives.
I carry you in my heart all day and every day and love you forever.
— Lakisha Woodard
Remembering Katrina
I was thoroughly blessed by Katrina’s presence. Even though I didn’t get enough time with her to build a deeper friendship, I feel privileged to have had the time I did with her. Before she became my classmate, I’d always see her smiling and in a good mood. Once she became a classmate, I cherish the time we spent together in class.
Katrina (“Trina,” for short), Margie, and I always worked together on projects, and Trina had a great sense of humor and fun. In Professor Baker’s Leadership Principles class, we were assigned to research a leader, and Margie chose Nero, the Roman emperor, for our group. When reading the research, we found some interesting and non-flattering details from Nero’s life that Trina and I wanted to include but Margie did not. So Trina and I made a pact to sneak the information into the presentation. Throughout the presentation, we kept “slipping,” sharing the scandalous information with the class. Trina enjoyed making the class laugh.
Trina was an absolute special gem. I called her my Sunshine. Her smiling spirit and joyful presence always lit up a room and brought a calm to the atmosphere. I will indeed miss you and treasure our time. Thank you for the laughter and love.
— Vanecha Cooper
