My whole life I have heard that high school is the best four years of your life and going into my senior year I truly did believe this. As a young child, I started off with simple friendships but as time went on friendships became more about the personality and common interests rather than the person you are sitting next to in class. I built many amazing relationships in high school that will last forever which made me not want to leave my friends, my teachers, my home, my family, or the life I knew. I was so worried about my adventure to college, I was nervous about making friends and adjusting to college life. I was walking into a new environment with not one person from my hometown next to me and with great distance between me, my parents and my brother. I was nervous about all the older students and I was worried about not being able to build relationships with peers and professors.

I moved into my dorm at the end of August, shaken and extremely nervous for what was ahead of me. I went to the orientation activities and right away I could tell that the best four years were right ahead of me in college. I truly did love my high school friends and I always will but I added to my friends when I went to college. Very few high school friends make it past the first year of college because of distance and other interests so it isn’t hard to stray away from one another. I knew I still had close high school friends, but I basically had to start over in college. There were no more stereotypes or people who we were forced to be with since we grew up together. We literally walked into college and got to choose our friends… and I can say I have made the best friends and met some of the best people I will ever encounter throughout my life, guaranteed. My college friends have changed me in the most positive ways, I have become a much more supportive person while also always offering open ears. There has always been a little void in my life and I have never been able to find out what was missing... but now I know… it is you guys.

You guys are a different kind of friend then teammates or others I have had in my life. You guys are examples of what a friend should be. You make me feel a purpose, you bring me happiness, you are my life. Opening up to every single one of you is just so natural and easy, not matter what the situation is. I feel accepted at all times and I hope each of you feel the same. From my best friends at college to the people I see once a week, everyone offers open ears and a helping hand. Thank you guys so much for taking time out of your busy day to find interest in my day. Thank you for playing "mom" on weekends. Thank you for being there for me even when we both know I am making a bad decision. Thank you for being honest with me, even though it hurts sometimes. Thank you for making me laugh when I feel like I have 20 pounds of stress on my shoulders. Thank you for bringing out the best in me. But most importantly, thank you for never giving up on me. It is easy to stay close to someone when there is only ups in their life, but when the downs came…. Thank you so much for staying. I never realized how positively everyone from my college has impacted me until I came home for winter break. Sure, there is texting and FaceTiming to stay in touch but it isn’t the same as going to eat lunch after class or watching a movie together.

My first semester of college would not have been nearly as great without you guys. I can truly say I do not know how I made it 18 years without knowing all of you and now that you are all in my life, I couldn’t imagine life without any of you. I have shared laughs, tears, late nights and many more memories with each of you. I would not replace you guys for anything in the world. I pray to god that my relationship with each and every one of you will only grow stronger throughout the next 3 and a half years and continue even after that. I love you all more than anything and I am extremely grateful to have you.

Love,

Your Forever Friend

P.S. My door is always open :)