Gali Benjamin
Monday | July 13th, 2020.
Gali insisted her room was a total mess as she led me upstairs.
I was somewhat disappointed by the hyperbole as I took in the 3 small piles of clothes and lone whiteboard with startup ideas scribbled on it laying about. She told me she was frustrated with all the heady logistics of starting a teenage business—her penpal connection organization. I scratched my head, taking in all the behind-the-scenes work that colored her ambition.
I had never gotten to know Gali outside of the AP English class we shared together, but something about her tipped me off. She seemed genuine, hardworking—human. She was the first one I thought to ask for a photoshoot.
As we drew the first few We’re Not Really Strangers cards, the tension dispelled almost immediately.
“Do I look kind?”
We ensued in a compliment war. I didn’t shut up about her comedic attitude and her ability to lighten our class in an instant, and she went on about my genuine tendency to listen. We progressed to level 2 of the game, eager to get to know one another more.
“And then a random missile exploded right by the highway me and my mom were driving on.”
She stated nonchalantly.
Her childhood stories of constantly being on the move and her rocky assimilation to the suburbs of Silicon Valley captivated me. Her fluidity of dictation never hinted that English was her second language.
The contrast between her stories and her infectiously comedic front tugged at my heart strings. I thought of my own transition to San Mateo. How I hated every second of being alone and misunderstood in a new school. I wanted so desperately to return to my hometown of Concord.
I couldn’t imagine how much more difficult it was for her.
I attempted to advise her after hearing about the repeated, grueling sacrifices she made in all her relationships. She was the type of person to put everyone else first to her last breath—she told me it was a part of being the oldest sibling. My chest ached as I realized my privilege as the youngest in my family.
I packed up the cards and affectionately introduced her to my cameras, Quinn and Clancy. My first-day nervousness quelled in the presence of her non-judgmental demeanor.
“I don’t want to be forward, but I think I’ve made a best friend today.”
“Me too. Definitely.”
Note: Every photo in Gali’s shoot, except for the first image, was shot on film. The rest (excluding Natalie) were shot on digital.