To Jered,

Seeing you in the hallway, hearing your laugh, and talking about the most trivial things always kept my day going. From video games, to the latest book you read, to science topics that you learned from Astronomy Club, your mind was endless with conversation topics. Even our last conversation right before Winter Break was about “Star Wars: Battlefront 2” and how the developers weren’t keeping players in mind. We laughed that day, and I’ll always treasure those moments where we could just talk about anything.

If anyone asked me about someone to discuss literature with, I would always say you. Sometimes I’d tell you to read something that I would be in the middle of, and you’d finish it before I would.

You always laughed at the dumbest jokes I made out of pity to make me feel better. Whether it was about a video game, or some silly YouTube video I had found earlier, your laugh was contagious to me, and always brought a smile to my face and to so many others.

Even though you were always quiet, and not as many people got to know you like I did, you will always have a special place in my heart. My life would not be the same if you hadn’t touched it, and I hope that I can spread your positivity and laughter to every person I encounter throughout my life. Jered Wilson, you will be missed, but never forgotten.

Jered Wilson, or as I knew him, J-Willy, was amazing. Jered was arguably one of the purest people I knew in the most major of ways. Through every moment I ever spent with him, I grew to know Jered as the extremely quiet and intelligent kid who was always beyond polite about everything while still being able to make jokes in any situation. He always had a big smile on his face and his eyes were always lit with life and a sense of pure joy. Jered was a quality friend who always managed to add something special to an exchange. As I spent time with him around friends, I saw how he evoked a sense of joy and humor in everyone he touched. I only wish more people had known one of the purest people I could ever meet.

Jered. J Willy. J-Rad. Over the years, I accumulated a lot of nicknames for him. Ever since junior high, I’ve had classes with Jered at PV and am grateful for it. While he may have seemed quiet to many, once getting to know him, everybody realized that his enthusiasm, energy, and desire to make people around him happy were unparalleled. Every time I ever walked into class unhappy, he made sure I walked out laughing at a dumb joke. But Jered’s charisma didn’t stop at making people laugh. He was completely selfless, helping me out whenever I needed it without ever asking for a favor in return. I can think of many occasions where I would procrastinate on homework assignments and he saved my grade, or when he diligently worked on group assignments to make sure everybody benefited.

The best thing Jered ever did for me was adjusting his whole schedule for the school year to match mine as well as it could so I’d have a good friend in more of my classes. Jered, with his humor, generosity, and humility, was the closest thing to a perfect friend I’ve ever known. I have a feeling I’ll never know anything closer. Even now, I don’t think I’ll be able to truly appreciate how much of an impact Jered had on my life until I get used to how much quieter my day will be without him in the desk next to me, or how much scarier college will be without him as my dormmate. While my words can’t do his memory justice, I hope that my actions can come one step closer. As time goes on, I’d like to be an endless source of laughter for my friends. I’d like to be a daily constant, the one friend who can always turn a bad day around. I’d like to help my friends out of a tough spot anytime I can while disregarding how much work or time it takes. I’d like to be more like Jered. And if there’s one thing we can all take away from his death, it’s that the world would be a better place if more of us could be the Jered in somebody’s life.