To those of you who call me your friend,

The word friend can be defined in numerous ways. A friend is someone who will always have your back, tell you when there is something in your teeth, and will always be honest to you. A friend is someone who you can call at any time of day and they will try to help you, whether it be with homework or advice. A friend will remain true no matter what. You will have your ups and downs but at the end of the day, you will still be friends. A friend will never see you get into a verbal argument and let you fight it alone. A friend will never not have your back. A friend will never talk negative about you and then act like everything is okay to your face.

It is sad to see that people on social media constantly say that they need new friends or that they do not have any friends. Is it truly that hard to be honest with another person? Is it hard to give someone a chance? In my eyes, it is not hard at all. Never judge a book by its cover. The best way to judge someone is by giving them a chance. By giving them a chance, you are able to see their likes and dislikes. You can always listen to what people are saying about a specific person but give them a chance so you can see for yourself who they truly are. If you see that things are not going the way you planned, then you do not have to be their friend.

Do not feel the need to call every single person you meet your 'friend'. There are other terms to call people, such as, classmate, acquaintance, and school mate. Always develop a friendship with someone before calling them your friend. Getting to know the person before you label them will help you avoid regrets in the future. You meet people from parties or clubs or organizations, but just because you are both apart of a group does not mean that you have to like them.

If you consider yourself my friend, then you would read this post and send me a picture that summarizes our relationship. Friends make memories with each other. Friends go through challenges with you, they will never leave you. People come in and out of your life and we all know that one person you used to be friends with...That one who you are now embarrassed to say you were friends with. With those people, take them as a lesson. Learn and move on.

I'd like to take the time to now thank all of my friends and best friends. Thank you for dealing with me. Thank you for never giving up on me and always having my back. Thank you for always taking care of me when I was sick and or going through rough times. Thank you for being so compassionate and caring. Whether I have met you in college, dance and or school, I appreciate you beyond what words can describe. To my best friends, I consider you my family. Family has fights, but nothing can break their bond. They love each other and will always be there for each other. Distance may separate them but their love keeps them together.

Be careful for those of you who are open to calling each other friends before getting to know each other. Be careful for those who will call you their friend but will never respect you. Always keep an open mind about meeting new people but always keep your guard up. You never know who you will meet during your lifetime.

Sincerely,

I never changed, you did