My nana used to tell me, "If you have one person in your life who you can call a true friend, consider yourself lucky." I met my first true friend in the fourth grade. As we get ready to go our separate ways yet again, I just wanted to take a second to thank you for after all these years still being a true friend. It has been a pleasure growing up with you. There is no one else I would have rather have experienced the best and worst stages of my childhood with. You were there for me to tell me when food was stuck in my braces and when my hot pink high top Converse were untied. Even after our parents finally let us have unlimited texting, we still had our gossip sessions on the phone, me hiding in my closet, and you on your ever messy bed, hanging off the side. You provided me with a sense of adventure. Your family became my family. Your dinner table became my dinner table (and my fruit snacks became your fruit snacks). When I considered "running away" I knew I had a second home to go to.

Ten years later and almost nothing has changed. Most days we are a bit more mature, but I still "luv u like a sista!" and look to you with a sense of admiration. Together we survived elementary, middle, and high school. We survived fake friends and broken hearts. And eventually, we (barely) survived leaving for freshman year of college. As we begin another year at our homes away from home, I know how lucky I am to have you in my life. Whether we are are few streets or a few states apart, nothing will change our relationship. I know that wherever we are, you are always only a phone call or text message away. Sure it may take us a week and three days to have a full conversation, but it gets done. Even when we are far apart, you are my inspiration. Growing up you were the social butterfly and I stood back and watched you mingle with people from all crowds. Now that I haven't had you to help me branch out, I just try and channel you when I am stuck wishing you were taking on the dance floor of a party with me.

No matter where we end up in life, whether it be an apartment in Boston together with a red kitchen, or different regions of the country (or even the world), you are my forever friend. You will always be the first person I want to go to with all my highs and lows. You are the friend that I want my kids to call "aunty." When life gets tricky our friendship remains stable. Thank you for fitting into my life like nobody else has. I hate the leaving part, but it makes me especially grateful for the years we had together.

Here is to calling myself lucky because I have found a true friend for life.