Now as I enter my second year of college, I have learned more than ever to appreciate my friends from home even though we are no longer in the same neighborhood. In high school, you have a set friend group more so than in college, and that friend group can be 3 people or 15. It just depends on who you enjoy spending time with. I have been blessed to have a steady relationship with a handful of my high school friends now that I am in my second year of college.

Last winter break was the first time we had all been together since the August before freshman year started, and it was as if nothing had ever changed. True friends can battle any distance and obstacle to be there for each other in the end. Obviously, frequent texts and Facetime calls are necessary when there is a new boy you're talking to at school or you are having a mental breakdown, but those hometown friends always seem to be there for me.

In high school, my friend group was constantly shifting. I was becoming closer with some and distant with others. Since high school graduation, I have grown more distant from those others but much, much closer with some as well. Being able to withstand one year of college and now onto the second truly shows me how sturdy and consistent our friendships are and can continue to be.

Hometown friends know all of your secrets from freshman year of high school and still love getting caught up on juicy details from college as well. They know you better than anyone. Bringing a guy home to meet them is almost worst than bringing one home to your parents. Your friends will openly interrogate and judge his every move whereas your parents stay quiet in person, but gossip to each other about it after he has left.

Even though we are miles and even states apart, I know I can count on my hometown friends to cheer me up whenever I need it, and that they would be here in person if they could.

We are all off now pursuing our own dreams and careers, but it is great knowing I have such a strong support system from my hometown for any decision I make in life. They are more than willing though to tell me though if I am being dumb or need to reevaluate my life.

If you're still in high school and have close friends, hold onto them. You will be so grateful for it one day. If you are now in college like myself and still have those hometown friends, take a second to text them and catch up. Be sure to thank them for everything they have done for you. Remember, they're the ones who stuck around during the pointless high school drama and when you made some questionable clothing choices in high school. They were there for you then and hopefully will always be in the future.