For the past few years, as college has become more of a reality, I have scorned shows and movies that illustrate the two main characters and life-long childhood friends moving into college together; Shawn and Corey in "Boy Meets World," Troy and Chad at the beginning of "High School Musical 3." I knew it was unrealistic for futures to be depicted that way. I have mocked kids in the grades above me for choosing to go to school with their best friends, thinking they were silly for not branching out and wanting to meet new people. When it was my turn to apply to colleges, I had no intention to go to school with anyone I knew. I wouldn’t even let my friends tell me where they were applying until it was near decision day. I didn’t want any of us to influence each other’s decisions. I wanted my choice of school to be what would be best for me.

But, after months of a decision process, I finally picked a school. It just so happened to be the same school that one of my best friends would also be attending. We were fairly new friends, having just met towards the end of high school, but she had quickly become one of my closest, most trusted confidants. With all of my other best friends going anywhere from an hour away to a plane ride away, knowing I am going to have her for the next four years is a comfort. College is terrifying, and the fact that I am moving into a huge university with someone by my side, with a little piece of home with me, makes me feel safer and more prepared for school. This is someone who knows almost everything about me already, someone who will understand when I need to talk late at night or go grab ice cream with me at a moment’s notice. My best friend knows how I’m feeling without me explicitly telling her, and the fact that we have shared so many memories and experiences together is going to make us an unbeatable team, a force to be reckoned with when we take on college.

And while I know I will be seeing her often, especially as we coincidentally have two classes together, I am still determined to make new friends and have the full college experience. I am not going to use her as a crutch or excuse to stay in my room and keep to myself. I plan on getting to know my roommate (a random assignment, because I know rooming with someone I am friendly with would only lead to chaos) and branching out to new classmates. I want to get involved in new clubs and still lead an independent college lifestyle, but it is reassuring to know I have someone who cares for me deeply and whom I care for deeply just a short walk away whenever I need her. It is important to me to maintain relationships, and I know my best friend and I will stay friends for life, our bond only strengthened by our shared alumnus status and college memories. At this point, I can’t even imagine having to say goodbye to her, as I’ve seen how difficult it’s been to do so with all my other friends, and I feel so fortunate to be moving into school in a week with my best friend, whom I love like a sister, right by my side.