I was born and raised in the same town (shout out to Suwanee, Georgia) and had never lived anywhere else until I went to college. When I decided to go out of state I knew that I was sacrificing losing touch with some people that I have known since I was in preschool, but what shocked me was which friendships lasted and which didn't.

When I was getting ready to go off to college I distinctly remember my older sisters telling me that out of all of my friends, only about two or three friendships would really last. I laughed in there faces and told them "No, my friendships are different and we are going to go visit each other and nothing is going to change." Well, of course they were right because they have gone through this before and they know how hard it is for everyone to stay in contact. Against all odds though, I can still count on two hands a group of girls that I have stayed close with no matter the distance and the time that separates us. So to my girls who have stayed loyal, you know who you are, this letter is to you.

Thank you for not just being a holiday kind of friend.

You guys know those friends, the ones that only reach out to you during the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Summer break because they "miss you" but in reality they've really just lost all contact with everyone at home and they don't want to be bored. I know it's hard to constantly stay in contact with people who go to different schools throughout the year, but it's not that hard to reach out to someone and let them know that you're thinking of them, and my girls back home are awesome about that.

No matter how much time has passed, nothing has changed.

Unfortunately, I don't go to school with any of my friends from back home, so when we're all home at the same time it's a rare occasion. I'm blessed with friendships that don't falter or stagnate no matter how much time has passed because they are more than just surface level relationships, we are beating the odds and these are friendships for life.

You love my school friends, too.

I think sometimes when you go away to school with no one from home, it's like you lead two different lives with two different groups of friends. You end up having your hometown best friend(s) and your school best friend(s) and introducing them is kind of like a balancing act. Thank you for loving my school gals just like I do, you have no idea how much that meant to me.

No matter what, no one will ever know me like you guys do.

College has given me some of the most incredible friends and opportunities that I honestly didn't even think were possible. But no matter what, these people up here will never know me like you guys do. They'll never know what I was like in 7th grade when I decided to dye my hair jet black, and you guys still loved me. They'll never know about our deep political and social talks on my porch and how much they've changed over the years.

We've grown up together, and I wouldn't change the world for that.

We have seen each other through many different phases of life, both the good and the bad. We've been there to cheer each other on when things went our way, and wipe each others tears when it did not. We've stood the test of time, and every stupid boy that tried to get in our way.

I don't think I every truly appreciated how wonderful you guys are when you were right down the road. Now, these long distance relationships have me really loving these friendships even more. Thank you for loving me despite my faults and crazy ways. Here's to a lifetime of adventure and good stories together!

P.S.A If you have never seen the SNL skit "Back Home Ballers" and this title is currently confusing you here is the link to the video, you should definitely watch it.