Friendships are bound to change as time goes on. You're constantly growing as a person, and sometimes your friends aren't going to grow with you. You can't hinder your growth because you are concerned with maintaining a friendship; if that person is meant to be in your life, they will stay.
It's healthy to say that you've had different best friends over the years. There will be best friends from your elementary, middle school, and high school days. Sometimes they'll be the same people, but more often than not they will change. But that's okay. Best friends bring different qualities into your life that can't be reproduced by the relationships with a parent or a sibling. They will be the people with whom you will cry, laugh, smile and share thousands of memories. These memories will be the ones you think of when you're reflecting on your childhood and going to your high school reunions.
However, when friendships change it is beautiful because you can see the change in yourself. Consciously or not, when you grow you start to notice the differences in the people with whom you surround yourself. Whether you like these differences is entirely up to you, but if you don't, then you start to distance yourself and somehow become closer with like-minded people. Your friends' behavior reflects your own behavior, and as you change your best friends, you get to see the change in yourself.
Growing as a person helps you mature and find success in the world. You learn what type of person you want to be, what type of life you want to live, and what type of people you want in your life. These are all important factors that contribute to your overall happiness. You don't want to surround yourself with toxic people who prevent you from showing your true personality. If you constantly find yourself under scrutiny or feel as if you have to create a fake persona when you are around your, so-called, friends, then maybe you need to take a step back and reflect.
It's extremely strange for me to look back on photos from the past few years and see the friendships I have made and lost. There are certain people who I can't imagine living without now, and certain people with whom I can't believe I ever shared secrets. But when I think about how far I've come since being friends with those toxic people, I smile. I remind myself that I'm on a path that's going to lead me to ultimate happiness because I keep growing and making new relationships. Friendships have changed in the past few months that I never thought would. While this has been hard to take in, when I think about it I realize that they are for the better.
So don't be afraid when you start texting your best friend less or aren't as worried about what is happening their life. If you grow apart, it was meant to be. If the friendship is meant to last, then it will. Especially when there is a major life transition, such as college, there will be major life changes. Changing friendships can be one of these; don't be afraid, though. If you lose some friends along the way, don't dwell on it. Find those people that are worth having in your life.
