High school friends--the ones you went to prom and homecoming with, played alongside on sports teams, and sat next to in driver’s ed. Together, you shared four years of ups and downs, exciting times and challenging moments. Chances are you had been friends with them since kindergarten and they had seen you through all stages (let’s all please forget about middle school, thanks). When some people get to college they lose contact with these old friends and never really reconnect. However, there are those lucky individuals who manage to keep in touch with their close high school friends during this next part of their young adult lives. I say that these people are lucky because high school friends know you like no other, and hold a very special place.
Thank you...
1. ...for always being home during breaks and acting like nothing has changed.
During winter vacation when everyone is worn out from exams and the whirlwind of first semester, there is nothing better than going home for a few weeks. Although at first we may shut ourselves up in our rooms and catch up on a week’s worth of sleep, after that is over all you want to do is hang out with your friends. It may have been months since you last spoke, but once you send a,
“Hey, what’s up?,” everything is back to normal.
2. ...for always being there to visit (or visit me).
Unless you lucked out and ended up at the same college as your close friends, you are probably miles and miles apart. Take this as a positive, though, as you are able to escape your own school and go see them. A change of pace is always a good thing, but most importantly you get to see each other.
3. ...for living five minutes away.
Having gone to the same high school most likely means you live in the same town or live at least somewhat close by each other. The friends you make in college are probably from different states, maybe even different time zones. But when you’re back home, all you have to do is get in the car and take that same familiar route on the roads you know by heart, and you’re there for a spontaneous hangout.
4. ...for some of the best summers together.
After you wrap up each academic year of college, you can always look forward to spending the following three months with some of your favorite people. Whether it’s the inevitable house party or day at the beach, you’re always on the same page.
5. ...for being your entire Facetime log.
There is no doubt that we all get caught up in the world that is college, but there are those moments when you get a chance to breathe and find yourself missing home and everyone that is home to you. Take those times and always reach out.
6. ...and along that same line, being your best friends in SnapChat.
I am sure we can all agree that some of our proudest moments are captured via Snapchat, and who better to share these with than the people you know will be proudest? And most likely miss seeing your face the most.
7. ...for being your go-to people.
When things go wrong in college, normally the first people you go to are the ones you are surrounded by. But when things get more complicated, who better to go to than your high school friends who know the full context? They know your family, your past relationships, and everything that made you who you are. So when crisis strikes, sometimes the only people who can understand are the ones from home.
8. ...for accepting how much (or how little) you have changed.
College is a time of growth—there is no denying that. Growing intellectually, first off, we would hope, and growing into the type of person you want to be. Whether this person is taking on a major that no one would have predicted, or other “extracurricular” activities that nobody would have seen coming, your high school friends are there to see it all and still love you for it.
9. ...for being your group chat.
When you’re all away at school, it can be hard to stay in touch, but thankfully there is the godsend that is group message. Whether you use it to send screenshots and get advice, gossip about the latest person from your town to get engaged, or just keep each other in the loop--group chatting is such a good way to keep in touch with your best friends and keep pace with their lives.
10. ...for giving you a second set of parents.
Growing up, you spent so much time at each friend’s house that you basically lived there. Because of this, you became very close with their families. Having an extra support system and place to call home is never a bad thing and those who have this would agree that they are extremely fortunate.
11. ...for all of the memories and for somehow agreeing to continue to make them with me.
When everyone gets together you always reminisce about being teenagers. You remember that time your football team made it to states, or when you started dating your high school sweetheart. Although it’s all in the past, the same people are next to you and ready to take on the next stage with you still in their life, and that is a blessing.
