Freshman year is scary. The stream of advice on how to make and keep friends is endless: Make as many friends as possible. Not everyone will get your sense of humor. Don't be antisocial. Have fun. Not too much fun. Be cool. Be yourself. Be the coolest version of yourself. It's enough to be compiled into a three-volume book called "Friendly College Advice from your Entire Family and That Waitress: How to Do College in 87 Easy Steps, the Unapologetically Unfiltered Edition."
But some of us were lucky enough to have found someone even through the barrage of advice from family. We found someone who made freshman year infinitely more bearable, and a heck of a lot less terrifying. That first-year-of-college friendship that formed and stuck almost without either of you realizing it might just be the most important one you'll make throughout college. It's why your freshman-year best friend deserves a million thank-yous (but 10 will have to do for now).
1. For knowing you like the back of their hand.
Or the front of their hand. Whichever side they know better. They somehow always know when something's wrong and can pick up on the slightest cues. Then thank them for bugging you about it until you cry and tell them what's wrong.
2. For not letting you go after they met you.
This is even as other people's friend groups shifted throughout freshman year. Thank them for being your ride-or-die person from the very beginning.
3. For being proud of you when you eat a pint of ice cream all by yourself.
That or any other ridiculous amount of junk food. Then suggesting other junk food to make you feel better about eating the first junk food. Then finally admitting, "We should work out."
4. For giving the most eloquent pep talks and life advice anyone has ever given in the history of ever.
Like, so good you wonder if they've been a motivational speaker / therapist / dictionary in a past life.
5. For looking out for you like they were your second mom and threatening anybody who hurts you with serious bodily harm.
Thank them for always having your back and telling you to look both ways before crossing the street.
6. For sitting with you when you cried harder than you could ever remember.
They're there wiping away your tears, and telling you everything will be OK.
7. For texting you all the time.
Sometimes you even text when you guys are in the same room, because it's just weird when you haven't talked to them in more than an hour. (Also thank them for those texts they send that make you laugh so hard everyone looks at you funny.)
8. For being so, so weird.
For talking in accents. For snorting when they laugh. For dancing like they don't care how awkward they look. For making you feel just a little bit cooler than them.
9. For actually being the "cool one," anyway.
Also, for always being more effortlessly put together than you'll ever be. For making you feel just a little bit cooler by knowing them.
10. For loving you unconditionally, and for being your go-to person through everything freshman year had to throw at you.
"Thank you" might not ever be enough to let them knw how grateful you are they stuck by you through it all.
