What to say about my best friend. There are so many different traits that make her such a great friend, but her caring and helping hand are some of her best. Sometimes it feels like our personalities are completely opposite, but that is what makes our friendship work. My best friend and I first met near the beginning of sixth grade on a field trip to the Ledges. When we got to the Ledges the teachers split us up into groups, with each teacher taking around ten people per group. It was a beautiful crisp fall morning with the fallen leaves crunching under our feet as we walked. I did not know anybody in my group, and sixth grade was a harder year for me because I did not necessarily have a really good friend I could talk to. At first I stood awkwardly by my group until I spotted my future friend. She was new that year to my school and I had heard around the school that she was a really nice person. So I attempted to talk to her, I don’t know what made me find the courage to talk to her that day because normally I was too shy to do anything, but now looking back I am so glad I did. I asked her if I could hang out with her during our field trip and she said, “yeah, of course you can.”

I was so excited to have found someone to talk to and she was very friendly to me. That whole field trip we talked and walked together and she was so kind to me. After school that day I remember going home and telling my mom that I thought I had found a new friend. The next day at school I sat at my lunch table by some girls I had met that year. My future friend and her friends sat one table away from me. I wanted to talk to her again but I was too shy to go sit over there especially since her other friends were with her. The following day at school the same thing happened but she did something that made me want to cry with happiness. She and her friends moved to sit by me; she said, “I’m going to sit by you today if that’s okay.” I could not believe she actually came to sit by me and from then on my life was forever changed. I was so happy to have found a new best friend and I couldn’t even imagine the fun, bad, and sad times we would eventually go through together.

In our eighth grade year she and I went through some rough patches and fought with each other. Of course we got over them after a while because that is what friends do and eventually we did not even remember what we had been fighting about. Also during eighth grade year my now best friend helped me a lot with my math. I had always had a really tough time learning the right way to do a lot of math work and I was often frustrated. She helped me with my shyness towards teachers that year so that eventually I started asking more questions when I needed help with something. She took time out her own free time just to help me with my math. She made me feel cared about and I was very thankful for her because she helped me with grow and better myself.

In nine grade my best friend invited me to do jazz dance with her and I decided I wanted to hang out more with her because we barely talked anymore. We had so much fun and no matter what we went through that week, it would all go away during dance and it was amazing. My best friend was and still is there for me when it comes to tough decisions and secrets I cannot tell anyone else because I trust her to keep them. Coming to high school changed some things between us and some of it has been tough to adapt to because we are each growing up. At one point I was afraid we were going to drift apart because we had grown in such different paths and ways but we adapted to the changes in each other's lives and our friendship grew stronger because of it.

I do not know what I would do without her. She makes my problems hers and when she notices I am sad and having a bad day, which she can always tell, she asks me what is wrong and gives me a big hug. My best friend has stood up for me and defended me when I needed it most; she has supported me when I am ready to fall. She helps me with my school work and is there just as a friend to have fun with, a shoulder to cry on, or anything I need her to be.

One of our favorite things to do is go see movies together; we sit in the dark theater with the aroma of popcorn wafting around the room. One can hear the loud whispers of our voices on the breeze that is carried throughout the cold theater as we talk about what is happening in the movie. We laugh and cry together at all the right parts in the movie. There are so many good and bad times we have been through, there are just way too many to count. Without a doubt, I know my best friend and I will always be there for each other on our darkest days, our brightest, and even when we are old ladies sitting in our rocking chairs on the front porch of an old folks home. I know we will try our best to not let each other down and with all of our faults, memories, and differences, we will be friends for the rest of our lives no matter what happens. We met in 6^th grade and who would have known what one person could do by only having the courage to move over one table and talk to someone new. A small gesture can turn into something huge just like my best friend did for me that day.

I often think what my life would be like without my best friend had we never met, but I cannot imagine it because it would be so different without the impact she has made. My life would be dull and boring without her friendship. We can all make a difference in each other’s lives if only we all had kind, caring, helping, and courageous hearts that are willing to help like how my best friend helped me that day in sixth grade. She and I have come so far. Every good friend once was a stranger after all. As we both move on to different colleges we are saddened that we will not have each other ever day to lean on but no matter what happens I know she is only a call, text, or even a drive away. We are friends for life. She is my sister, my family. We are not sisters by birth, but we knew from the start, fate brought us to be together to be sisters at heart.