My senior year of high school I remember thinking to myself "Will I still be friends with the people I am friends with now?" As graduation day passed and the tassels turned, I realized that would be the last day I saw most of the faces I saw for 4 years of my life. When the summer before college ended and all of my high school friends had their cars packed for college, I knew there were several people that wouldn't be driving out of my life for good. This article is dedicated to my high school friends who I can proudly say I can still call my some of my VERY best friends. The following are just a few of the reasons why high school friends that stick around are diamonds in the rough. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today.
1. Even if you don't talk for a while, nothing has changed.
Life is chaotic and "cray-cray" sometimes. It's nice to have friends that feel your pain and don't get upset if they don't hear from you in a couple days or weeks. But once we talk again, it's like nothing has changed.
2. You can reminisce about the embarrassing old days.
You can tell all your new friends about your embarrassing, hilarious and wild high school stories but your high school pals LIVED them. Being nostalgic about the "good ole days" with the peoples that helped create the memories is priceless.
3. You get to be their biggest cheerleader.
Even though we all chose different paths of life and live in different towns, I know I will always have constant support from these people. Getting to cheer them on from the sidelines is one of my greatest joys. Watching them from the bench makes me realize how talented, successful and inspiring my friends truly are.
4. We have a deeper connection.
When you have been best friends with a person for 4+ years there is a bond that can not be broken by time or miles. High school is a time of life when you grow so much in a short amount of time. We have grown up together and are now growing together. Because they have walked life with me, hand in hand, they keep me in check when I begin to slip. They know who I truly am so they won't allow me to become someone I am not.
5. They have seen you at your worst and still love you at your best.
These people saw me through my awkward stage, all the big mistakes I made, the times I wasn't a good friend and all of my many changes. These people loved me when I was unlovable. They never sugar coated the truth and always serve me my fair share of brutal honesty. My high school friends helped mold me into a more confident and better version of myself my new friends know now. They know more about me more than ANYONE.
6. They make you excited for coming home for in summer.
Having to leave college and forfeit your independence for a couple months is not always the most appealing thing. Knowing you will get to see your hometown heroes and kick the dust up in your hometown together again makes it more bearable.
7. We are almost TOO comfortable with each other.
There is no such thing as TMI with these people. If only people overheard the conversations we have together... GOD BLESS!!!
8. You get to watch them blossom and mature.
Getting to witness your friends chase their dreams and get closer to the people they want to become is nothing short of amazing. Knowing you can tell people one day " I knew them when..." is exciting. Even though you aren't with them on the journey constantly, you still add flames to the fire.
9. You learn to communicate together.
Navigating a friendship over a phone is new territory for us. Going from seeing each other every day to once every couple of months is trying. Shout out to group messages, Snapchat, FaceTime, Twitter message and any social media. Couldn't make it without you suckers
10. They give you unbiased advice about issues that don't involve them.
When you are having issues in your new life, they give you new perspectives on it since they are not wrapped up in it. Having someone to call in the middle of the night when your heart is broken or just vent is the best thing EVER.
