In the Same Boat: Thea and Eric’s Friendship Voyage
Nine years ago, Thea Karakalos (‘15) and Eric Bennett (‘16) found themselves sitting next to each other in an Oceanography class at Seattle Central College and struck up a friendly conversation as they waited for their professor to arrive. Neither knew that this random choice of seats would lead to a lasting friendship — one that continues to enrich their lives today.
Karakalos, a first-generation, low-income college student, grew up in Athens, Greece. In 2008, amidst the worst financial crisis Greece had faced in almost a century, she relocated to Ventura, California to live with her uncle. While visiting Seattle with a friend in high school, she fell in love with the city and took the leap to move after graduation — even though she “didn’t know anybody, didn’t have a house or a job, and wasn’t enrolled in school.”
I could’ve been their parent, but I became good friends with them. Those connections were fostered by a real sense of community.
Fortunately, Karakalos found her footing at Seattle Central, where she enrolled in liberal arts courses. “The transition was easy because it’s so easy to make friends — lifelong friends,” she shared. “Eric and I just talked one day, and we’re still connected.”
For Bennett, pursuing an associate degree at Seattle Central marked a fresh start in his life. Despite being an older student surrounded by younger classmates, he was immediately struck by the campus’ diversity and supportive atmosphere. “Seattle Central was a melting pot of ideas,” Bennett said. And of his classmates, he said, “It was so diverse — a great group of people. I could’ve been their parent, but I became good friends with them. Those connections were fostered by a real sense of community.”
Following that first day of Oceanography class, Karakalos and Bennett bonded by tackling the difficult coursework together. “We started the class and then we just sat next to each other every day,” Bennett recalled. “We got to know each other. We did experiments together in class. We laughed about silly things, because the class was fun, but you were expected to learn.”
For Karakalos, the shared struggles of the class made their friendship even stronger. “It was way more difficult than you’d think,” she said. “But I had someone next to me who I could, not commiserate with, but say, ‘Okay, this is a lot, but we’re going to do this lab and get through it.’”
Karakalos reflected on how something as simple as choosing a seat can impact your life. “It’s funny how random it is,” she said. “When you’re younger, you have assigned seats you don’t like. But as adults, you pick a spot, and that’s your spot. I was lucky because the people I sat near were awesome — it was easy to start conversations.”
Their friendship wasn’t just built on academic struggles. After class, the two would often meet to share a meal or hang out in Cal Anderson Park on sunny days. "We’d spend time together eating, laughing, and talking about life," Karakalos remembered.
Eric and I talk about Central so often because it was life-changing, or at least life-affirming.
Though their time together has been limited since Karakalos transferred to Seattle University in 2015 and Bennett transferred to Central Washington University in 2016, social media has allowed them to stay in touch. “The time that we spent together in real life has been very few and far between, but we have been able to follow each other's lives and stay connected,” Karakalos said.
Their connection remains rooted in a shared passion for learning and a mutual appreciation for Seattle Central. “Eric and I talk about Central so often because it was life-changing, or at least life-affirming,” Karakalos said. “There was definitely a community there.”
Recently, the two friends reunited for a meal on Capitol Hill, where they reminisced about their time at Seattle Central. A photo from their gathering, shared on Facebook, caught our attention, leading to this feature their heartwarming story of lasting friendship.
He’s the most real person I know — an amazing person. I love you, Eric...I love you too, my friend.
As Karakalos returns to Athens, where she is embarking on a new chapter of her life, Bennett remains in Seattle, working towards his dream of teaching college history. But no matter where life takes them, their friendship remains strong.
“He’s so clever, quick, and hilarious,” Karakalos said. “When we catch up, it’s mostly laughing, but it’s also really deep. It’s never superficial. He’s the most real person I know — an amazing person. I love you, Eric.”
Bennett shared her sentiment. “She’s such a sweet, wonderful person. She always has a smile on her face, even when I feel like a gray cloud. I love you too, my friend.”
Fittingly for two friends who bonded through studying the ocean, Bennett concluded our interview with a sailing metaphor: “Some people I met at Seattle Central were like ships crossing in the night. But my ship was lost, and Thea’s ship came by. I anchored next to hers, and we started chatting. Before I knew it, we were on one boat.”