In my time at college, as most people do, I have had friends come and go. There are many different types of friends that you meet in school. You have friends that you only hang out with in classes. You have friends that you only hang out with in your dorm. And then you have those friends who are there no matter what. For me, I have found that there are specifically six of those friends. These are the girls who, no matter what happens, are always going to be at your side. In my experience, you cannot get through college without them.

1. The Protector

This is the girl who can go from being your friend to your mother at the snap of her fingers. She is the one who you call when you are crying and need chocolate, are sick and need medicine, or just had a really stressful day and you need to pig out on ice cream with someone and not worry about your waistline. She will always take care of you. Her purse is a “Mary Poppins’ bag.” Anything you could possibly think of that you need, she has it. As a result, she will inevitably be the most organized, Type-A person that you know. She has three different planners, everything is color-coded, and there are Post-It Notes everywhere in her life. She will always drop everything to bake you goodies to fit your food allergies when you are having a hard day or think you might have failed that test. This girl is just generally a dear, precious soul with a heart the size of Texas.

2. The Therapist

“Can you believe he said that?!” "No girl! I can’t!” This is the conversation you will have with her the most, the girl who will always let you vent. She will listen to you and get mad with you. She is sympathetic and empathetic with just the right amount of attitude. If you are lucky, she is black and that makes the attitude even better. She will get you more riled up and go slash your ex’s tires with you when you need it. But she will also calm you down and talk it out when you need it. She has a knack for getting you out of socially awkward situations. And she is the best wing man you have ever had. She also always remembers everything going on in your life and every guy about which you have ever told her.

3. The Academic

She is the one who always pushes you to do better in school. The one that makes straight A’s and is always studying. She is usually in the hardest program at your school. (Like maybe nursing?) As a result of all of that studying, she does not have time to “soften things.” She will always shoot straight with you, whether you want her to or not. You never have to wonder what she thinks about you or how she feels. If you truly want to know what you look like in an outfit, you can depend on her to tell you what she really thinks. Her honesty and straight-forwardness all stem from a genuine love for you. Her humor is always sarcastic, and sometimes you may want to strangle her, but at the end of the day, you would not have her be any other way.

4. The Golden Retriever

This is the girl who never has any idea what is going on. She has a heart of gold and would do anything for you. But when it comes to remembering people or what, specifically, is going on in your life, she never will. Her token phrase is: “Wait, what?” She always wants to know what is going on, and greatly cares about you and your life, she is just too flighty to ever remember it. Usually, she is a breed of “The Academic.” She probably works a job, goes to school, and is in the Honors’ Program. All of this contributes to her being flighty at times: she is always busy and on the go. As “The Golden Retriever,” she is very loving and very distracted. To her, everything you say is new. But it always keeps you smiling, and she is so cute, you just do not really care.

5. The Daredevil

She always keeps life fun. You are always terrified she is going to get in trouble, get you into trouble, or get hurt. But you cannot help but laugh at her craziness. She can talk you, and the rest, into doing just about anything. And her end goal is to always push the envelope just enough so that everyone has fun. She is always dancing and telling jokes. And you are always pushing her out before security escorts you both out of the store. She is funny and confident and never cares what anyone thinks of her. She is happy being herself and is okay if you do not like her, but that will not change who she is. Typically, she is a very hard worker and has not had the easiest life as a child, but that is what has made her so bubbly. Whenever you are sad, you call this girl and she will put you in a better mood.

6. The Ray of Sunshine

The last friend you need is the girl who is always happy. No matter what happens, she is always full of joy. She is bubbly and bouncy and loves life. She is always singing and laughing and dancing. Her smile is infectious. And she always reminds you to keep life in perspective. Everyone around her can see her joy in life and it spreads. She loves all people and is always willing to see the good in them. You can call this girl whenever you need a hug. She is the person who will cuddle with you when you are feeling lonely and before long will have you smiling. When something bothers her, you never have to worry about it for long, because soon, she will be smiling again.