Christina Ammens '05, a civil engineer living in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Tiffaney Dildy '04, a martial arts instructor living in Burtonsville, Maryland, met their freshman year when they were paired as partners in a writing class. They didn't care for each other at first.
"During peer reviews, Christina used to mark my papers to the point where they looked like an NFL playbook,” said Dildy, whose bachelor’s is in communications.
“Yes, I would bleed all over her papers,” admitted Ammens, who graduated with a degree in civil engineering.
But they became friends during a chance meeting at the old Fieldhouse — where Monarch basketball was played years before Chartway Arena — when Ammens, struggling to transform into her secret identity, Big Blue, saw Dildy and asked for help.
“I asked her if she could help me connect my head to my body,” Ammens said. “I know I scared her because she wasn't expecting Blue to talk. The rest is history. We started hanging out and then we lived in Powhatan and then on 42nd Street.”
Dildy describes her friend as intelligent, loyal, beautiful, witty and sarcastic.
Ammens says Dildy is honest, loyal, caring, loving, hilarious and motivating.
Attributes they admire most in each other:
Dildy: Christina always makes time for me. No matter how busy life gets, if I text her and need to talk, she carves out time.
Ammens: I admire Tiffaney's honesty and caring spirit. She gives good advice and is always real with me. She is the little sister I always wanted.
The moment they realized they were best friends:
Dildy: I'm an introvert and very guarded. I knew she was my best friend when we talked about everything. I opened up to her about my life and feelings. In return, she entrusted me with one of her biggest secrets at the time: she was Big Blue.
Ammens: And our shared love of rock ‘n’ roll! I also knew she was my best friend when my mom and dad were asking me how my sister was doing. To this day, my parents ask about my sister.
Fondest 51鱨վ memory:
Dildy: When a hurricane shut down campus and we had to evacuate, I didn't know how I would get home because I didn't drive at the time. I had a bad cold. She called her mom, told her the situation, and drove us to her home in Spotsylvania, Virginia.
Ammens: Tiffaney was so sick and basically hunkered down on the sofa while riding out the storm. My parents and I made sure Tiffaney was nursed back to health. My dad decided to take care of Tiffaney's stuffed chipmunk while Tiffaney was recovering.
A recent time they saw each other:
Dildy: Last year, I was struggling with writing and publishing a book project I was working on. I talked, she listened, we went to a concert, talked more, she gave me advice and now I have a published book.
Ammens: We went to see Halestorm!
How they've maintained their friendship over the years:
Dildy: Loyalty and support. I know I can go to her about anything. No matter how big/small, serious or ridiculous it may be, she's there for me. Her mom is my mom. They both attended my wedding. Christina's my sister. She's my family.
Ammens: Ditto, and communication. Tiffaney and I always make time to text, call and see each other. I can go to her with anything, from relationship advice to just venting over work. My parents are her parents. They always ask about her. One of the biggest honors was Tiffaney asking me to speak at her wedding.