There are those who have such an impact in our lives that we consider them as more than just friends. They are the ones who keep you sane. They are the ones that if you were to murder someone you would call them to help you hide the body. They are your chosen family. Some of us are lucky enough to meet these people at a young age, others meet them later on in life. I was one of the lucky ones, I met them at the ripe young age of 19. Although it’s only been a short year since then, I know that I can call them my chosen family. A chosen family is a group of individuals whom you are not related to, but hold a place in your heart just like family does. During my year of friendship with these remarkable individuals I have found that they built who I am today as a person.

This past year I have learned what true friendship is. It is when you can make a complete fool of yourself and these people will be right there with you, laughing with you, and even goofing along with you so that you aren’t embarrassed. These are the people that I know will have an impact on my life forever. When you mess with one of us you will most likely have the others right there to fight back with all of their being. My chosen family is the closest I have ever imagined I wanted to be with a group of individuals. That is not to say that your chosen family won't fight because that is just a part of life, and makes the relationship stronger. If you’re lucky enough to have a group of individuals in your life like I do, never let them go.

These are the people I know that I want in my life, for the rest of my life. We spend holidays together, go on vacation together, spend birthdays together, and even work together. I would never have it any other way. In this group everyone plays a part. Theres the sarcastic friend who will basically show as little emotion as possible. The smart-ass who thinks that they know everything and stick by it, even when they very well could be wrong. The smart friend who everyone goes to when they need help with homework. The psychologist who will make sure that everyone is okay and will listen to everyones problems and make sure they're doing okay. Lastly there's the ditsy friend who everyone always seems to be laughing at and with.

There could be multiple people who hold a couple of the characteristics that I described and there are definitely more kinds of friends that keep the friendship together. That's what makes the friendship work. Everyone has a part and everyone goes to someone in the friend group for certain thing.

I am lucky to have such an amazing group of people in my life that I know, and hope, will always be a part of my life. My advice is that if you find a group of people that make you as happy as my friends make me, NEVER let them go. They are going to be the glue that keeps you together when you need a late night drive, a friend at the family dinner table, and the people by your side through the good and the bad. I was lucky enough to find my chosen family, and I wouldn't change any one of them.