Throughout my life, I have had many different sizes of friend groups. Some were larger than others, but I got the same out of all: friendship. Friends are people who are loyal to you and who are shoulders to cry on when life goes wrong. They are always there to talk to and offer encouragement. Laughing is something friends do on a daily basis. My friends mean everything to me, no matter how many there are. In high school, I had a small group of friends that I could always count on. They supported me when no one else would. When I got to college, I became friends with a lot of people in a building where my boyfriend lived. At first we were not a big group, but as the year went on, we grew. Here are some of the things I noticed about having a large group of friends.

1. There is always someone to talk to.

With having a large friend group, there is always someone to talk to. You can walk down the hallway or into the lobby and notice one of your friends right away. It is not that hard to find them because your friends never leave the building. If you are having a bad day, there is at least one person willing to listen and give you good advice. During freshman year, I was having a hard time with my roommate and I talked to my best friend in the group about it. She was super helpful and I am thankful for that.

2. There is never a dull moment.

On weekends, the group is always planning on getting together to do something, whether it be on campus or out of town. My friends are all characters. They love to joke around and make fun of each other when they mess around. One time during a big snowstorm, we decided to play hide and go seek around the dorm building when there was no electricity. On a lazy weekend, we watch all the "Paranormal Activity" movies during a rainstorm. I wish I could go on more about how they never let me feel bored.

3. Friend combos.

When you have a large group of people together, there are always people who are closer than others. It might be because they are a couple, roommate, etc. When there are all kinds of personalities that are a part of one entity, there are bound to be some people who do not click. With my friends, we made it work through the good and the bad. I admit I was closer with the girls more than the guys but I would not trade anything for their friendship. For sophomore year, I am planning on rooming with two of my best friends in the group who got me through so much.

4. Traveling together takes a long time.

I feel like my campus knew we were all together when we walked around campus. Going to dinner was a trip. It first would start off with the group coming together at the same time and place every day to leave for dinner. There were a few people who would forget shoes or to put real clothes on and not pajamas. The moment we were all together, it is like herding cats. We would all walk into the dining hall at the same time and we would look for a table to fit all of us. Sometimes we were not so lucky. All I have to say is this is how my friend groups works.

5. Drama.

This is a major thing that happens in all friend groups, no matter the size. It is hard sometimes because your two friends are fighting and it feels like you have to pick a side. Trust me, it is the worst. We never intend for anyone to leave the group, but it happens. The drama affects everyone in the group, whether you like it or not. In the end, we have to work together and make sure we get past our differences.

6. Friends for life.

With the good and the bad, I would never trade any of my friends. The group has changed a lot throughout the course of our freshman year. Some left and some still are trying to get over the past. These people were there for me from the start. I consider the guys my brother and the girls my sisters. We fight and laugh, but that is what families do. Nothing can change the bond we all had.

No matter the struggles we might face in the future, I will always be loyal to my friends, even if it is a group of about 20 people.