Coming to college is not only an opportunity to receive a higher education, you also get the chance to try new things and meet new people. I have done exactly that. I met my two very best friends here, and I have no clue what I would do without them.

I met my friend Meghan through cheer. We met on the Facebook group and ended up both attending the same cheer camp at Mansfield. We became pretty close friends and our friendship only grew when we came to school.

I met my friend MaryKate on Facebook and we ended up being roommates. I did not meet her until move in day, but we connected immediately and I would like to think we have been best friends ever since.

The three of us have done absolutely everything together since we got on campus. When Meghan and I have a football game or another cheerleading event, MaryKate plays ‘cheer mom’ and helps us get ready, gives us rides, or anything else we may need. We are always there for each other and always will be.

I was so lucky to have found two amazing friends like them. They keep me insane. I could not tell you how many times we have all sat on someone’s floor or sat on someone’s bed and just had a little freak out session together. I highly suggest making close friends that will not judge you during your mental breakdowns because I feel like there a lot of breakdowns in college. We all make bad decisions; we all try to talk each other out of those decisions, it does not always work. So when we fail, we pick each other back up. We don’t judge, we do not make fun of each other, well too much. We have become like family. We literally do everything together. We go out together, we eat together, we work out together, we are even going to try living together next year.

When you come to college you just need to have an open mind when it comes to meeting people as well. Everyone is different. I came from a small graduating class of 58 students, to a freshman class of over 700. It is amazing who you will meet and the friends you will make that you never thought you would be friends with. You also have to remember that it is okay to make best friends while you are at college. It might feel like you are cheating on your best friends from home, but you are just making some new best friends for your new home. One of my favorite quotes I have found, “I have learned that your college friends become kind of family, you eat together, you take naps together, you fight, you laugh, you cry, and do absolutely nothing together until you can’t remember how you ever lived your life without them in the first place.” It’s from an unknown author but it is honestly so true. I am honestly so blessed to have amazing best friends like them and I am so lucky so have met such amazing people since I’ve moved to Mansfield.