Friendships take all kinds of shapes in elementary school, but every once in a while, you meet two students whose connection feels like it’s been there almost their whole lives. Fifth graders Aspen Cook and Emily Little share exactly that kind of bond — one built through years of shared classrooms, rehearsals, basketball games, and countless moments that have shaped their story together.

They’re together this year in Mrs. Gregson’s class, something they both consider one of the highlights of fifth grade. They weren’t always in the same classroom; in first, third, and fourth grade, they were in separate rooms. Being reunited now feels special. “We’re a lot closer this year,” Emily said. Aspen nodded right away. “Yeah, being in the same class makes a big difference.”

Their shared history stretches back to early childhood. They attended the same Pre-K, were homeschooled during kindergarten, and then joined Unity Point together in first grade. Over the years, they’ve run cross country, joined the basketball team, and jumped into the world of children’s theater — a passion they now share wholeheartedly.

Theater is one of the biggest parts of their lives. Both girls participate in ArtStarts in Marion, where Aspen has already performed in five productions: The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Moana, Mean Girls, and now Beetlejuice. Emily joined two years ago after watching her older brother perform, and she quickly fell in love with it too. Mean Girls — her favorite movie — was her first show. Now they are both part of the Beetlejuice cast, spending evenings rehearsing and helping each other practice lines and choreography.

They talk easily about ensemble parts, the mariachi scene, and Aspen’s enthusiasm for playing the head chef in one segment. Acting is their strongest skill, they say, with singing close behind. Dancing, they admit, is a little harder. Both proudly call themselves altos.

When they aren’t on stage, they’re often on the basketball court. Aspen and Emily play on the fifth-grade JV team, and while they haven’t won a game yet, their enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed. “We get to play a lot,” Emily said. “We’re not just sitting on the bench.” Aspen added that she loves basketball because it lets her be competitive in a way she enjoys. “It’s the sport where I can actually get aggressive,” she joked.

Emily likes the sport for different reasons. She loves playing alongside her best friend, and she enjoys the way basketball makes her feel strong and confident. When someone plays tough defense, she doesn’t back down. “You can be like, ‘Move it!’” she said, laughing. Aspen agrees. Neither girl considers herself the biggest player on the court, but they show up with determination every practice and every game.

Sports run in their families. Emily’s eighth-grade brother, Chase, is a strong basketball player. Aspen’s brother, Braden, also plays and is, according to Aspen, “one of the best on his team.” Their older brothers — Cooper and Tyler — are close friends too. Even their parents are friends, which makes the girls’ long-standing relationship feel even more natural.

Outside of sports and theater, they dream big. Aspen hopes to become a nurse or a cosmetologist because she likes taking care of people. Emily imagines several possibilities: cosmetologist, teacher, actor, or something else entirely. For now, she thinks babysitting will make a good first job. They talk about their futures the same way they talk about rehearsals and basketball games — full of imagination, always together, and always laughing.

School is another shared bright spot. They love their teachers, especially Mr. Lockhart in fourth grade, Ms. Jordan in third, and Ms. Hilt in fifth. Emily also mentions Ms. Aldridge and her aunt, second-grade teacher Ms. Borowitz. They enjoy the school lunches — especially pizza — and both like that fifth graders get to switch classes. “It’s way better than staying in one room all day,” Emily said.

When asked what makes Unity Point special, they didn’t hesitate. The teachers make the biggest difference, they agreed. And then they added that one of their favorite parts of school is simply getting to share it with each other.

As Aspen and Emily head into the rest of their fifth-grade year — juggling theater rehearsals, basketball games, big dreams, and everyday school life — one thing seems certain: whatever comes next, they’ll continue growing, exploring, and cheering each other on, just like they always have, side by side.