No New Friends Written by: Kisha Roberts

NO NEW FRIENDS

B Y D R . K I S H A R O B E R T S - T A B B P H O T O G R A P H Y : F R A N C I S G L E N N A N E X C E R P T F R O M " W H O S E L I T T L E G I R L A M I "

I must admit high school was hard and the students were cruel. I began high school with a ready-made crew. We had all went to junior high school together and believed that we were indestructible. We had spent nearly every weekend together since the 6th grade and new each other ’ s deepest secrets. We added a few members to our junior high cohort and the crew was formed.

I thought that these would be my girls forever, forever lasted all of freshmen year. By the time we made it to the tenth-grade secrets had been told, relationships had been ruined, sides had been picked, and our unbreakable bonds had been shattered. When all the sides had been picked, I felt like an outcast. I had managed to hold on to Rea, who was one of the new members of our crew. She did not attend junior high with us but if you observed us, you would have never known. I knew it was rough on her because she was caught in the middle, still friends with them and still maintained her friendship with me. Although sometimes I wanted her to just pick a side, even at 15 years old I knew that wasn ’t fair. For the first few months of school, I went back and forth regarding my four-year friendship with these girls. At some point, I decided that I had enough. I remained friends with Rea but decided that the whole “ crew ” thing was just not for me.I began to walk alone through the hallways and for the first time since I could remember I was cool with that.

Kenwood had so many activities, I could tell Rea was having a hard time dividing herself between them and me. I decided to go to the basketball pep rally alone.As I approached the bleachers, I asked an unfamiliar face if anyone was sitting next to her. “You are now, ” she said and laughed. I had never seen this girl before, but she had such a welcoming spirit. I sat down next to her. We laughed and joked the entire pep rally. I didn ’t know it, but I had met one of my best friends that day. From that day forward, we were inseparable. We were in different divisions, shared no classes, no extracurricular activities, yet we were always together. Besides Natia, Neka was the only other person that I shared my secret with. She cut classes to go to the doctor with me and my mother.

My mother had to have a spinal tap, but I had a final exam and Kim also had a school commitment. Best friend to the rescue, she left school lied and told the doctors she was me and, held my mother ’ s hand during her spinal tap. You often hear people say that you meet your lifelong friends in college. Yes, I did Dekeila, Michelle, Tucora and Ebony, but the unbreakable bonds that were developed in the halls of Kenwood were irreplaceable.

The experiences I have shared with Ardi, Kisha, Malinda, Nneka, Rea, and Toni, no one else would ever understand or even believe if we told them. This was “My Crew ” , no judgment. We all came from different backgrounds, but no one cared, we had each other ’ s back. Like any other crew, there were members who were closer to some than others, but for me, these are the six women that got me through all my break-ups, celebrated my accomplishments, laughed at my flaws, held me down through tragedy, and took some of the pressure off Natia.

As life would have it, I would develop some amazing friendships, a work family and sister/friends. I always say if you don ’t have friends like mine, I feel sorry for you. When life has thrown its toughest punches at me, I have had a village of amazing women to catch me dust me off and send me on my way. When I look back over my accomplishments, I have had my very own cheer squad to back me up. The next time you hear a woman say that women are too messy, let them know that they have the wrong friends.

If you are lacking a Natia who will never let you feel sorry for yourself while getting you right together with a smile, your best friend needs work. If you don't have a Neka who would hold you down a thousand miles away and crack a joke during your most embarrassing snotty cries, you have the wrong best friend.

If your girl is not available to ride down on anyone and have never missed one event since the ninth grade, then you need a Toni. If you don ’t require much but need a friend that you don ’t have to talk to every day but know when you need her, she is right there, Dekeila is your girl. Now if you need that girl that is cool with laying in the bed, watching TV with you, and enjoying it, then you need a friend like Trice. If you are lacking a prayer worrier who will bring the Bible out while the plane seems to be descending mid-flight, I must introduce you to Ebony.

If you don

’t have a group of ladies that you can meet on the first day of a new job and develop a friendship that will take you through 15 years of deaths, graduations, birthdays, new relationships breakups and growing kids then you are lacking a Kelly, Marvene, and Tasha. I can ’t forget the "we can do anything" friend, who will hype you up to start a business, buy the house, build a brand and travel the world. If she ’ s not part of your circle, you're missing a Michon. If you don

’t have a ride or die like Niecy, who is down for whatever while wearing four-inch heels, and the most fabulous outfit you ’ ve ever seen, then you have no idea what you are missing. So, we all need that what do you need and will go above and beyond to get it done friend, well I have Jeannie. Then, there ’ s the friend who will walk right up to you and say, “You know you acting a fool, now what’ s going on with you. ” If you don ’t have that keep it a buck friend, then you need a Tamar. Every girl needs big sister/friends that act as sounding boards, shout out to Sherri, Jen-Jen, and Baby Dee. Now I am not one to brag but these beauties that make up my Squad are the bomb. With girls like this who needs new friends.

S H E O W N S T H A T ENTR B O S S E S B R E A N PR D S A N D ENEU B U S I N E S S Her

A N D B U S I N E S S

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Ravin (center) Owner of Kravin Aesthetics shared this photo for our special Girlfriend Edition. She hosted a Girls Night Out for a few of her Girlfriends to get pampered at her salon. Kravin Aesthetics located in Steger IL., and specializes in skincare needs from facials, advanced treatment to full body waxing!

Ladies, Grab your Girlfriends and make it a Girls Night Out! https://kravinaesthetics.com A N D B U S I N E S S B O S S E S B R A N D S

Lili St Christopher Founder of College Bound Village, provides services that assist and educate students and parents along their college and scholarship journeys. Whether you need help choosing a college, writing essays, or especially locating scholarships to pay for higher education, Lili says you can count on us to help lessen the burden. https://collegeboundvillage.org

Dr. Mukaia Mitchom Lockett is a licensed Chiropractic Physician and Wellness Health Consultant and owner of Fix and Transform My Health. Dr. Lockett believes that the body is able to heal itself when all interference is removed. And she has witnessed this many, many times. “One major way to remove interference to the body is to take control of it by being PROactive instead of REactive. When being proactive, the cause of health problems are addressed and not mere symptoms, and this creates a healthy healing environment for the body to thrive and restore. There is nothing like wanting to have a quality life, but not being able to enjoy it due to poor health and the consequences of chronic disease.” Her purpose is help as many people as possible live a healthier, happier, pain free life, their best health, NATURALLY, just as God intended by sharing His love and power to restore health. Dr. Mukaia Mitchom Lockett is transforming lives to better health naturally; back to the basics.

https://fixandtransformmyhealth.com

THE QUEEN OF

Chicago is known for it's beautiful skyline, it's amazing shopping on the Mag Mile, Navy Pier, Lake Shore Drive and for their delicious cuisine. You can't visit Chicago without getting a Taste of Chicago! That's exactly what our featured Entrepreneur does gives all of her dinning guest a Delicious Taste of Chicago Southern Style! Meet Bridgette Flagg who we have named The Queen of Soule'! Bridgette is the owner of the chic BYOB Soulfood Restaurant in Chicago; Soule' . Her unique twist on an intimate dinning experiences has people lining up to dine at this fine establishment. The decor is elegant, the staff if friendly and the food is delicious! She ROCKS It Magazine is always looking for entrepreneurs who are changing the game in their own lane. That's exactly what our featured entrepreneur has done. We met Bridgette Flagg over 2 years ago when we started hearing the name Soule' buzz around town. We reached out and invited her to join us for a panel discussion as we hosted filmmaker Renee Bluitt and her film "She Did That" which documents the stories of Boss Female Entrepreneurs. We wanted Bridgette to share her story so everyone could hear why She ROCKS It selected her to be a guest in The She Lounge. Our Founder also took a trip to Soule' and dinned on an amazing feast, she she said "I think I tried the entire menu, including the Fried Chicken, Mac and Cheese, Greens, Fish, Shrimp, and Yams, It was so worth the trip" . You must make this a stop when you visit Chicago. Bridget has been highly recognized for her restaurant and we are sure there are many more accolades to come! Here are just a few. EATER Chicago “15 of Chicago

’ s Best Restaurants for Celebrity Sightings" Travel Noire “50 in 50: Best Black Owned Soul Food Spots in Each State ” XO Necole “It Was All a Dream: How a Girl From Chicago ’ s Westside Uses Soul Food to Unify the City ” WGN’ s Midday Live LunchBreak Hoodline “Top Five Soul Spots in Chicago ” Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, The Infatuation, America Loves Food and Sports, AB7Chicago *Crain ’ s Business is currently working on a piece https://www.soulechicago.com

Soule '

Pictured L-R Joyce, Founder of She ROCKS It and Bridgette A N D B U S I N E S S B O S S E S B R A N D S