TeamMates of the Month: Riley and Lindsay

September 2, 2025

 Ever-Ready for What Comes Next

Riley has to think back to fourth grade to remember her first impression of her mentor, Lindsay.

“She was…well…she reminded me of a bunny.”

Lindsay laughs and explains further.

“We got connected because we both love bunnies: having bunnies, wanting bunnies, cuddling bunnies.”

It was years before Riley had the courage to admit she’d told  Lindsay that she had a bunny before she actually had one.

“When Lindsay told me she had a bunny, I just kind of pictured a bunny in my head, and then it came to life. She was definitely surprised when I told her.”

Lindsay has her own take on how she felt about fourth-grade Riley’s imaginary bunny.

“The intention was to be able to connect a little more. So the intention was really beautiful.” 

Admitting a mistake and extending grace signals the trust that has grown between the two.

According to Lindsay, Riley’s trust took a big jump in middle school.

“There was a moment in middle school, where you told me something, and I thought, ‘Alright, there's just some trust here,’ and that has continued in high school too.”

Times when Lindsay had to watch Riley figure things out for herself haven’t been easy, such as when Riley got into what she admits was a “toxic” relationship.

“I just care about her so much,” Lindsay said, before turning to Riley. “To see you in a relationship that just wasn't benefiting you was hard. You never stopped talking to me about things, though. I feel like it almost brought us closer together. And you made it!”

“I did,” Riley says. “I made it out of the [toxic] loop.”

The strength that Riley showed in moving through that hard stretch is something Lindsay models for her.

“Whatever is in Lindsay’s way, she sees her way through; she never gives up. I’ve had a lot of struggles, and she has never stopped wanting to talk to me and be available. She always sees through the dark.”

Riley looks at Lindsay and searches for the right words to capture her impact. 

“You just made me feel more open, like I could talk more, like I felt seen.”

They can imagine graduation now, a time when they’ll celebrate what Lindsay calls Riley’s “amazing growth and perseverance,” a time when they’ll have a chance to just get some ice cream together as friends.

 

You can learn more about Lincoln TeamMates at https://lincolnteammates.org/.

 

 

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