The quintessential best friends story: seniors Salome Kakalashvili and Kathy Zakharova meet in the 7th grade at the bus stop on the first day of school, creating a friendship that causes them to sometimes be known as “the inseparable pair of Grady High School.”
“When I look at Salome and Kathy, I can consider them the traditional type of best friends, almost like sisters,” Sopio Chochua, Kakalashvilli’s mother, said. “It’s more than friendship. It goes deeper than that.”
Kakalashvili said because she was born in Tbilisi, Georgia and Zakharova is a first-generation Russian, they share a similar mentality and sense of values. Zakharova and Kakalashvili are also both members of the Technology Student Association, the girls lacrosse team and the speech and debate team. They have been Public Forum partners since their freshman year when Zakharova convinced Kakalashvili to join the team.
“It’s been really good working with her because we think the same way,” Kakalashvili said. “You may think that’s not good for debate, but it really is. It helps us out because when we make speeches and when we compete, we are always arguing for the same things and there’s never any contradictions.”
The pair was named junior varsity state champions as sophomores and varsity state championship as juniors. They also have qualified for the National Catholic Forensic League tournament three times.
“Usually if you talk to us separately and about the same subject, we will more than likely say the same thing,” Zakharova said.
Just as Zakharova convinced Kakalashvili to join the debate team, Kakalashvili got Zakharova interested in lacrosse. Chochua said although Zakharova was initially interested in sports, for the love of being together, she joined.
“They have been pushing each other over the years in a very positive way,” Chochua said. “When one does very well, it kind of promotes the other one to do well too.”
Living just a street away from one another in the Ansley area, Kakalashvili and Zakharova are always at each other’s houses.
“[Being neighbors] gives us the added benefit of having two closets,” Zakharova said.
Despite their similar hobbies, taste in clothing and association with one another, Zakharova said anyone who really knows them can also appreciate how different they are. While Kakalashvili is more outgoing and optimistic, Zakharova is down-to-earth and realistic.
In an example of of almost knowing each other better than they know themselves, when Kakalashvili was leaving Zakharova’s house at night, Zakharova warned her to not run home in the dark because she would trip. Ignoring her advice, Kakalashvili ran home, tripping and hurting her hand in the dark in the process.
“Sure there are similarities between them in how they are as people, but I think there are a lot of differences between them too and that’s what keeps them being such good friends,” senior Jamie Reed said.
Looking back on their friendship, Kakalashvili said they have both grown and learned lessons from each other.
“All of our transitioning processes have been together, so we really know each other,” Kakalashvili said. “That’s helped us adjust to high school and make good decisions.”
Zakharova feels similarly.
“I know that high school friendships sometimes don’t work after high school, but I’m not really worried about that with [Kakalashvili],” Zakharova said. “I feel like we’re going in the same direction, and I’m pretty sure this is what our friendship is going to look like for a pretty long period of time.”
Likewise, Kakalashvili said, “We have the same goals for life and what we want to accomplish. I think we want to go to the same colleges, and even if we don’t, I know we will always keep in touch and never lose the connection.”
