Even though we may all still be in denial, the day has finally come where we have to say goodbye to some of our best friends since kindergarten. The group that we have taken time to solidify will be leaving each other, even though we swore the time would never arrive.
Even though we all coordinated our packing lists and made trips to Home Goods and Target together, it didn't feel real until we had to start saying goodbye. All summer we would continuously think about the looming idea of college in the back of our minds, telling all the parents, "I'm so excited to leave, it's going to be great!" I had my response to moms and dads of friends down to a tee, but as summer is winding down, I realized how much I love my high school friends.
This summer was supposed to be filled with the most amazing memories and nothing but good times, but as we all applied for seasonal jobs and work slowly ate up all of our free time, time spent with each other was never taken for granted.
This time of year marks the end of all of our summer activities- late night ice cream runs, nights spent watching The Bachelorette, beach days, driving around town blasting the music and being able to text a friend to hang out immediately.
I never thought I would say this, but I might actually miss high school because all of you. You guys always made my day brighter no matter what was going on.
Especially to those of you leaving us first, you will be missed. I'll miss the little things that I get to do with all of you (being coerced into having a heart to heart, going over speed bumps at 1 MPH to see if we can make it), but I know that this isn't the end of any of our friendships. I can only hope you guys don't start to hate the rest of us when we constantly text you with "college questions" until we get to experience it ourselves.
As we begin to part, we know that we will be reunited relatively soon, and will always be in touch. Even so, this is the first time we will all be separated from each other for a span longer than a few weeks. Whether you're leaving to become a gamecock, friar, eagle, terrapin, cav, duke, colonel, or bobcat, we're all going to kill it.
It's strange to think in just a few months we will be reunited, but we will be talking about different friends, new places and all kinds of opportunities we've been given. It's a sad time, but it's so exciting. I'd wish everyone good luck, but nobody needs it.
Thank you all for making these last 12 years amazing, and I can't wait to see what you all accomplish.
