College is the time to come into your own, pursue any and all possibilities, and make friends that will stick wth you through obtaining your degree and beyond. The friends you make in college are going to be a part of how you find and build yourself, and it's good to remember why they're the best.

1. They didn't have to witness your awkward stages

Everyone has those two or three years where they did their own thing and now get to cringe at any memory of it. The people you meet in college will have no idea you might have dyed your hair green or that you wore white t-shirts under EVERYTHING. Making friends based off who you became rather than who you were gives them a better understanding of the person they're getting to know. It's easier to decide what information they get to find out and when you want to disclose that.

2. You get to adult together

Transitioning from your parents doing everything for you to having to handle yourself isn't always easy, but having friends along side you make things so much better. You don't just have to deal with the drab parts of adulthood, you also get to go do fun, wild things together. Maybe you'll go on a spring break road trip, or go to Walmart and get carded for cough syrup. Growing into growing up becomes less terrifying.

3. Different perspectives

Friends from home may have a similar point of view to you on things such as politics, global matters, music, media, etc. While that is more than okay, it might be tiring. Making new friends offers the chance to expand your horizons and brain capacity on issues you might not have been super enthusiastic about before. Seeing things through the eyes of someone new makes you either change your opinion or value it more.

4. Together, you get to tackle the troubles of college

College can be overwhelming when you have 3 papers due, a proposal to write, practice, and a GPA to maintain. Your friends are going to be more than able to relate and willing to help, even if it's just in a small way. They could take the time to help you study, proofread a paper you're not super confident on, or binge Netflix to help you de-stress. College students stick together.

5. Fresh faces and new memories

Getting burnt out on people you've gone to school with since you were five? Good news, the friends you make in college are a chance for a brand new start! While you may be scared to meet new people, ultimately it's refreshing to find new faces to stare at during lectures and a variety of personalities to mingle with.

6. Save your sanity

There are plenty of moments you will feel like wrapping up in a straight jacket and relocating to a padded room for the rest of the semester, but your friends will always be there to keep your head on. When you're struggling, they're the people who will push you to do your best and take you out for ice cream to celebrate. They'll talk you off the ledge when you feel like shredding your entire research paper, and make you feel a little more level headed.

7. Good influences

You may not necessarily need them, but good influences are always welcoming. Your friends are gonna make sure you keep on track and stay away from distractions unless they're the distraction. A mindful friend is the best kind, the kind that will help you achieve your goals and only give you minor grief for slacking along the way.

8. You're all in the same boat

College is a cesspool of responsibility and you're all adrift; it's your job to keep each other afloat. At the same time, it's a chance to really get involved in clubs and activities together! Maybe join the dance team, work on the play, or volunteer for some nonprofit organizations. Making your friends be social can be a pain, might as well get a laugh out of it.

9. No judgement

They can judge you all they want, but you know it's not serious. Your friends are about the only people allowed to judge you, it's how they keep you in line; however, they encourage you more than anything. Encouagement and constructive criticism are the most loving aspect of college friends.

10. Those perfect moments

There are those times, whether you be mid laugh or screaming ironic lyrics to a song, and you kind of realize how blissful you feel. That's happiness. Those are the moments that last as memories, and they're better shared with people you truly connect with. College isn't all responsibility and homework; there are a lot of fun experiences to be had, places to go, and people to meet. Those experience are made even better by the friends that tag along. Use your time in college to find those people, and create bonds you'll never forget.