I used to think that if I grew up, got over my childish behavior and became mature, I would be giving up on my childhood.

My childhood was filled with wonder, Disney movies and magic, and I never wanted that to end; I never wanted to stop watching Disney movies and I never wanted to lose the wonder and curiosity that I had about the world. What I didn't realize is that growing up didn't mean I would have to stop watching my Disney movies and stop wondering what the world held, it just meant that my movies and wonder would change with me. (Quite literally, they're remaking a lot of my favorite Disney movies!)

As I grew from a timid girl in middle school, to a soon-to-be junior in college, I didn't know it would mean losing friends that I held dear. But just because I lost them, didn't mean I lost our insane adventures and what they'd taught me. I could never thank my friends, childhood and college enough for teaching me lessons like I have to tell people when there's something wrong and my slight insanity can be fun sometimes.

All the nights of staying up watching documentaries about Henry VIII and the five in the morning walk to 7Eleven to get eggs for pancakes taught me that best friends are, in fact, the best. But as I walk into the next year of my life with my boyfriend as my best friend, I learned that sometimes you just have to let things and people go. I wish I could save every relationship I've had with my friends, but it just means that you both are growing up and might not fit in the same puzzle anymore.

I'm a different person than I was in high school. I'm no longer my brother's sister, I'm myself now. Some people might not like the changes but that's fine with me. I'm happy with how I am now and people not liking it is the least of my worries. Some people might think I've changed for the worst, but that's fine too. It just means it's the worst for them, not me. The girl I was a year ago is a different person and while I might miss her and the adventures she had, she's the past ad she's going to stay there. She'll live on in memories, but I'll never go back to being her.

Real Friends once said that 'growing up is giving up' but not for me. Growing up is growing up. I might give up some of my behaviors and mannerisms, but that doesn't mean I've given up on who I used to be, who I'm going to be, or who I am right now. I'll always be me, just a different me, maybe even a better me.