The lives of busy college teens consists of 8ams, gallons of coffee, difficult essays, and impossible to pass tests. As we balance out our days between school work, social life, and down time we tend to look past the real reason how we remain mentally “sane.”

Who do you go to when you cry because you didn’t do well on your test? When you need help reviewing a paper? When you need to tell someone about the “hottest guy I've ever seen on tinder,” or just to sit and talk about how your day went? I’m 99% sure your answer would be your friends, (unless you’re the 1% that would say your dog, but don’t lie cause those aren’t allowed in dorms).

From the age of around 5 years old, we enter kindergarten as a new chapter in our lives. We have play dates, talk about our favorite barbie dolls, and tell our mom when they “aren’t being nice to us.” Then a few years later we enter middle school, the age where hormones kick in and attitudes and drama are at an all time high. Were you ever the left out friend in a group of three people?? I think we’ve all been there and it sucked. Then we go to high school, EVEN WORSE!!!! Drama, boys, competition, who’s prettier, “who said this about that one,” you name it. I’ve been through it…...all of this is just to prove the impact that friendships have had on our lives whether we realize it or not. Toxic friendships are a thing and as you grow older you realize that petty arguments are a waste of time. Moral of the story is, when you find a great friend keep them.

Friendships are SO important and I think we tend to look past how much our friends do for us! Think about having to survive a week without them, it would be next to impossible. No one to vent to, laugh with, or hang out with, sounds pretty horrible right?

Luckily I found someone of the greatest people in college. They are full of enthusiasm, support, and to be honest some of the funniest people I’ve ever met. Along with my friends from school, I have the GREATEST friends who I love as if they were related to me. Carolina, Valeria, Brittney, Alana, Chelsey, Brooke, Cassi, Bianka, Logan, Hunter, Danny, Nick, and many many more all mean the world to me and guess what? They all live at minimum 1,000 miles away from me. Maintaining long distance friendships over the last three years has taught me A LOT!

1. Friendships are not about who you’ve been friends with the longest or who you see the most.
2. Friendships are so much more about an everlasting bond that somehow just comes natural.
3. Friendships are the late night conversations about boys...
4. And talks about our favorite makeup!

5. Blasting throwback music in your car.

6. Sleepovers, watching movies till the sun comes up.

7. Inside jokes that only you guys will understand.

8. The people that know your deepest and darkest secret.

9. The ones that know your saddest and most vulnerable moments.

10. And the ones that just want to be there to see you smile. When I’m having a bad day I know that I can call or text any one of these people and they will instantly put a smile on my face.

Don’t forget to tell your friends how much they mean to you, give them a call or send them a text. I’m sure it will make them incredibly happy, cause let’s be honest, who doesn’t love to hear that they are loved and appreciated!

PS: If you're one of my friends, just know that I love you and appreciate you!