Sheen
One of my closest friends. We've been talking constantly since November 2023 -- the kind of friendship where there's always something to say, always something to share. We talk a lot.
How We Met
We went to the same school. The same hallways, the same "ARE YOU COMING SCHOOL TOM" energy. Sheen was part of that world -- the group chats, the drama, the everything. It started in school and kept going strong even after distance entered the equation.
The LockIn Connection
When I was building LockIn, Sheen wasn't just someone I told about it -- Sheen was someone I recruited. I sent the link, asked them to install it on all their devices, and then went further: "Distribution in school too". I literally asked Sheen to help spread LockIn through their school. "On all your devices", "Install it" -- I was in full startup founder mode and Sheen actually came through. We even talked about whether the school would pay for it -- "Like when you go in the school will they pay" -- which shows how much I trusted Sheen's ability to make things happen on the ground.
That's the thing about Sheen. It's not just "oh cool app bro." It's actual support. Actual action. Installing, sharing, distributing, asking the right questions about monetization. That's rare for anyone, let alone a teenager.
The Real Stuff
Beyond the startup talk, Sheen is someone I trust with the real stuff too. School drama, exam stress, life updates -- the daily rhythm of being a teenager. We went from sitting in the same classrooms to being in different places, and the friendship didn't skip a beat. The fact that we never run out of things to talk about is proof that some friendships are just built to last.
Sheen is also one of those people who makes you feel like your ideas matter. When I'm excited about something, Sheen matches the energy instead of bringing it down. That kind of consistent encouragement shapes how you see yourself and your ambitions.
What Sheen Means to Me
Sheen represents something important: the friends who didn't just stay in touch but actively became part of my new life. When I needed early users for LockIn, Sheen was there. When I needed someone to talk to about school or life, Sheen was there. The friendship evolved -- from classmates to cross-country confidants to my unofficial distribution network. And through all of it, the core stayed the same: trust, realness, and the kind of loyalty you can't manufacture.