Elise Griffiths, 21, Adelaide, SA
Sitting down in psychology class, my best friend, Amanda, 17, slumped next to me. She wasn't looking her usual bubbly self. 'What's wrong?' I whispered.
'Headache again,' she sighed. 'I wasn't going to come in but today's my Elise day.'
Smiling, I squeezed her hand. On Tuesdays we had a double period together so it was our favourite school day.
Since we were five, Amanda and I had been joined at the hip. Whether it was netball or trips to McDonald's, we did everything together.
'Sure you're okay?' I asked her. 'It's probably just stress,' she nodded. 'I've been studying hard.'
I wasn't surprised and felt proud of her. Amanda was incredibly smart. She'd always dreamt of becoming Australia's first female prime minister.
On the other hand, I tended to struggle when it came to academia. Luckily, Amanda was always there to help me.
'You can do anything when you put your mind to it,' she would encourage me.
In computer class days later, Amanda signalled to me from across the room. She pointed to her eye, then her heart, then to me. I love you, she mouthed.
I smiled and did it back. It was strange. Amanda wasn't usually so affectionate. Then at a party that weekend, she pulled me aside.
'We have heaps of friends at school,' she said. 'But you and I will be best friends for life.'
I hugged her. 'Of course,' I said.
A week later I asked Amanda to come out after school.
'I'm tired,' she mumbled. 'I might just go home.'
'Okay,' I said, hugging her.
At 4am the next morning I was woken by a phone call. It was my friend Amy, 17.
'Come over,' she spluttered through her tears.
'Why?' I groaned.
'Just come,' she said.
Lugging myself out of bed, I couldn't imagine what could be so important. Minutes later I arrived at Amy's house, where a crowd of our friends had gathered. They looked at me through worried eyes.
'What's happened?' I frowned.
'It's Amanda,' someone said. 'She's dead.' I was confused. I'd only just seen her.
As I stood there motionless, someone tried to explain.
After we'd said goodbye, Amanda had gone home to bed. When her mother, Betty-Ann, went to check on her, Amanda had slipped into a coma.
'They rushed her to hospital but it was too late,' someone wept. 'She was brain dead.'
I swallowed hard, trying to wake up from this nightmare.
Doctors had discovered Amanda had acute obstructive hydrocephalus. It was a cyst in the middle of her head which was putting pressure on her brain stem as it grew. It had eventually cut off the oxygen supply to her brain.
'She can't be gone,' I shivered, breaking down. All of our plans and dreams had come crashing down.
At least I got to tell her I loved her, I thought, wondering if Amanda had subconsciously known her fate. 
Amanda was my best friend
Later, I discovered a simple operation could have saved Amanda's life.
'If only she'd gone to the doctor,' I sobbed.
The following months were a blur. I was lost without Amanda and fell into a deep depression. I couldn't eat or go out. I'd just sit and think about my best friend.
But then one day, I had a realisation. Amanda would hate you being like this, I thought.
I couldn't mope around forever. Amanda's life had been taken from her. It was up to me to live life to the fullest for her.
On the night of the school formal, awards were handed out. Students had voted for the winners months earlier.
'The winner of the Princess Award is Amanda,' the MC announced. 'Elise will accept it on her behalf.'
Wiping away a tear, I went on stage to accept the school's most prestigious award.
I wasn't surprised that Amanda had won. She had been school captain and was loved by everyone.
'She got my vote,' I smiled.
That night, I also won some awards, including Most Likely To Be Famous.
It got me thinking. I'd always wondered about getting into the entertainment industry. Now I had another motive.
I could raise awareness about Amanda's condition, I thought. It was then I decided to leave school to pursue my dream.
'I'm more of a worker than a student,' I told Mum, Anita, 40. 'Plus, school's no fun without Amanda.'
After that, I got into modelling and became a V8 Supercars grid girl. Each step brought me closer to breaking into the industry.
A year later, I was watching television when I saw a casting call for the reality show Beauty and the Geek Australia.
The show teamed attractive women with intellectual men and encouraged the contestants to learn from one another.
I could do that, I thought. I knew it could be the ticket to kick-start my TV career, so I went to an audition.
Standing before the producers, I smiled brightly and told them about myself. 'I hated maths,' I confessed. 'And I can be ditsy.'
Amazingly, weeks later I was told I'd been accepted.
'I'm so proud,' Mum said, beaming. I hoped Amanda would be too.
In September, I arrived at the house where the show was being filmed. It was bizarre being surrounded by so many cameras. You'll get used to it, I told myself.
After meeting the other beauties I felt more comfortable. We all got along so well.
But then it was time to meet the geeks. They came in one by one. Each wore glasses, a bow tie or braces. They were so stereotypically nerdy, I couldn't believe they were serious. But when they introduced themselves, I realised they were.
When Paul came in I was mesmerised. He performed a song and I admired his bravery. He's interesting, I thought, deciding to choose him as my partner. 'Nice to meet you,' he grinned nervously. 
With my geek, Paul, on Beauty & The Geek Australia
Afterwards we all got to know each other. All the geeks were total gentlemen and I was excited about the task ahead.
It was our job to make the geeks cooler, and they had to make the beauties more intelligent. But it wasn't always easy.
'Why don't you wear a belt instead of those braces?' I hinted to Paul one day.
'I like these,' he grinned.
Once we'd settled in, it was time for our first challenge. The geeks had to perform a rap and the beauties would teach a year-four class. My subject was maths. I was terrified.
'I'll help you,' Paul reassured me. His words reminded me of Amanda and I couldn't help but smile. In the lead up to the challenge, I helped Paul with his rap while he tried teaching me how to do fractions.
'I can't do it,' I'd complain, wishing Amanda was there.
'You can if you put your mind to it,' he told me, and I remembered Amanda saying the same encouraging words years before.
When the challenge day arrived I was riddled with nerves.
Standing at the front of the class, I scribbled fractions on the blackboard. I didn't get them all right, but I was proud that I had given it a go.
'Well done,' Paul smiled.
The show taught me I can achieve anything, and I've made some great friends.
Hopefully, it will lead to more television work and I can raise awareness of Amanda's illness.
I urge everyone who has persistent headaches to see a doctor. It could save your life.
Amanda will forever be in my heart. After all, she was the most beautiful geek I'll ever know.
As told to Kim Bonett.
To make a donation to the Neurological Research Foundation or for more information, visit www.nrf.com.au or cal (08) 9371 0771.
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