Senior Averee Kyle died unexpectedly at the age of 18 on Jan. 22. 

Overland Trail Elementary Principal Erica McDonald had Averee as a student for two years. She was her first grade teacher and said when she started teaching third grade, she made sure to get her again.

“She’s an incredible human being, and I think she should be remembered as that and nothing less,” McDonald said. “In the time that she was here, she was a true gift, and she made such an impact on so many.”

Spanish teacher Heather Martens said one of the most defining aspects of Averee’s character was her kindness. She said Averee would help classmates in a respectful manner and was honest and trustworthy. 

“You could just see the tenderness in her eyes when someone might have been struggling,” Martens said. “If there was a passionate moment in a discussion, she was very enthusiastic about a position, but she wasn’t like, ‘I’m gonna hurt your feelings to make my point.’ She was very conscientious of her partners.”

Martens had Averee in class her junior and senior year and said she was an outstanding student who always wanted to improve. 

“[Averee] worked hard in the class. You could just see the passion she got into things, but at the same time, she was such a kind student to everyone around her,” Martens said. “You couldn’t ask for a better student.”

Senior Divya Subramoni was on the girls wrestling team with Averee and said she was an incredible teammate.

“She was genuine and unselfish,” Subramoni said. “In retrospect, it’s a little sad, but at the last practice [she] was super happy and just very excited to be there.”

Sophomore Natalie Hsieh was Averee’s wrestling partner for two years and said she was perfect.

“She was the example of who I would want to be when I am older: the patience, the kindness, the funniness,” Hsieh said. “She truly changed everyone on the wrestling team for the better.”

McDonald said that Averee was a confident, one-of-a-kind kid. One of her fondest memories with Averee was when she requested the song ‘Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)’ to be played so the class could do the dance.

“I recorded it, and I have watched that video almost every day since I heard the news about her,” McDonald said. “In that moment, that was who AJ is. She was a confident, fun, vibrant, just a [jubilant] human being.”

In wrestling, Hsieh said Averee was dedicated and funny, and people would fight over being her partner. 

“She was just a very hard worker,” Hsieh said. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard her complain about anything.”

Also noting her incredible work ethic, Subramoni said Averee had big plans for her future.

 “When I talked to her most recently, the night before she died, she said that she wanted to be a psychiatrist in the army,” Subramoni said. 

McDonald said Averee’s death was heartbreaking, especially because she was so young.

“I’m just so sad that I couldn’t be there to be a relief in some way, and I just know that there’s so much more for her to do in life, and she’s not here to do it,” McDonald said.

In the future, Martens said she will remember Averee with a smile. 

“She’d always get a little twinkle in her eye, a little side smile,” Martens said. “It was an honor to be her teacher.”

McDonald said she will always remember Averee fondly as her spunky but sweet elementary-school self.

“When she would hug me, she would literally squeeze me. And I would say, ‘Oh, AJ, that’s so tight,’ but it never kept her from doing it again,” McDonald said. “It made her squeeze me tighter every time. I’m going to miss those tight hugs from her.”

McDonald said the room was full of love at the celebration of life service held for Averee on Jan. 27.

“We all came together in memory of [Averee], and we were able to share our memories and just be there for each other,” McDonald said. 

Hsieh said Averee had a strong, perfect personality and always thought of other people. 

“I can’t think of a single flaw about her,” Hsieh said. “I know she was quiet, but she was such an amazing person. She genuinely made me a better person too.”

The National Suicide Prevention (988) Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.