An open letter to the people you lose in college:

Dear Best Friends,

Yes, that is a broad title. Yes, that is what you are to me. In college, you met the best friends you’ll ever have. But also in college, you lose them. People come and go so fast. They’ll be there for a semester, maybe a year or two. They transfer to brighter things. The ones that really stings are the ones who you still see every day, but have grown apart from. The reason you are such good friends with them in such a short amount of time though, is because you go through life with them. They are your family; they are the ones you experience the tough stuff with, the homesickness with. You can count on them to be there through it all.

I feel like I have lost a significant friend every year of my college experience so far. Going into my senior year, I’m reflecting on the things I’ve learned through meeting all of these amazing people.

To my best friend of freshman year: wow! Who would have thought that we would still be such great friends? Those two shy girls are now the ones that shut the bar down when we are together. You really helped me become the person I am, if for no other reason than the fact that you believed in me and still do. I didn’t lose you when you transferred but not having you there every day still stinks for me. However, I’m so unbelievably proud of you for following your dreams.

My sophomore year, my best friend and I were joined at the hip. She’s the one “that got away.” We were so close and had a blowup fight. Those are the worst because you never want to see that person again and say things you can’t take back. But you see them and think back, and wonder what would’ve happened if you didn’t act like a total idiot and spew word vomit all over them. And then it’s too late.The times we shared and the adventures we had together were some of the best of my life and I still think about them all the time. I don’t consider you to be a lost friend because I know I could still go to you with a problem and you would help me.

And here we have my best friend of junior year, the one that I still have going into senior year and the one that I will have for the rest of my life. You, best friend, are going to do great things with your life. We have really done it all together. I don’t know how or when we became such good friends but I’m glad it happened. I remember when we first met, you hated me! Gradually, through classes, we became the inseparable duo we are today and for that, I am grateful.

Friendships in college are completely different from any other friend experience you will have in life. They’re the ones that help you become who you are; they are your family when yours is halfway across the country. They’re the best you’ll ever have and losing them is just what happens during the fleeting four years you have at school. Cherish the times you have with them and look back on them when they aren’t with you anymore.