From the day I started kindergarten, I was searching for a “best friend.” I was looking for the kind of girl that would do everything with me, that would love me unconditionally, that I could share my snacks with, that I could spend late nights on the phone with, and that I could get into adventures with. I didn’t find her right away. It took time and many friendships to find her. I gained and lost friendships, each time unsure if I would ever find a new best friend. I was eight years old when I met her. She was blonde, and I was a brunette (which we all know means we were bound to be best friends). The friendship was gradual, but steady. Two years later, we purchased our first friendship necklaces. Eleven years later, we’re still besties.

Something I’ve learned in life is that there are two different types of friends. There are the friends that make an appearance in your life for a short time, and there are the friends that are there to stay: the best friends. When I was young, I thought you could only have one best friend; I was wrong. Over the years, I have found a few diamonds. It’s time I thank them for everything they’ve done.

Thank you for never giving up.

No matter how many fights we had, how annoying I've been, or how much time passed without talking, you never let me go. Thank you for sticking with me and making our friendship something worth keeping.

Thank you for accepting me.

I know that I am a little different. Sometimes people can’t accept me for who I am, but not you. You have always understood that I am the way I am, and you’re perfectly fine with that. There are things I’ve done that I’m not proud of. You don’t judge, but you do steer me in the right direction. Thank you for allowing me to be myself.

Thank you for being there when I needed you.

I’ve definitely had some ups and downs. Life can get tricky, and I’m so glad I had you by my side to help me get through the tough times.

Thank you for being crazy with me.

It wouldn’t be friendship if we didn’t do weird things together. Thank you for yelling “nipple” extremely loud at the pool. I won't forget the time you helped me prank people after they fell asleep. Thank you for singing high school musical at the top of your lungs with me in the laundry room. Thank you for bringing a water balloon in my car on the way to soccer conditioning. Thank you for being one crazy girl with me.

Thank you for understanding that boys suck.

I’ve had my fair share of heartbreak and can’t thank you enough for all the times you’ve had to get me through it. You were there to pick up the pieces, to hold me while I cried, to bring me notes and treats to help me feel better, and to gorge yourself on ice cream with me. You listened to my endless venting and you always gave the best advice you could. Thank you for getting me back out there.

Thank you for adventuring with me.

I will never forget all of the adventures we have gone on. Many of them vary in activity, but none of them are forgettable. Thank you for being brave with me.

Thank you for never letting me get bored.

With you, nothing is boring. No matter what, our friendship has always been one that makes life itself worth living.

Thank you for making me laugh.

You always put a smile on my face. There is never a time that you can’t make me laugh. Thank you for the weird comments, the hypothetical situations, the endless sassy comments and the dance parties.

Thank you for loving me.

There were many times that I felt I wasn’t enough. You never made me feel that way. Thank you for showing me that someone did love me. You kept me going.

Thank you for understanding my weird habits.

We all have weird habits, and I definitely have a good amount of them. Thank you for understanding my OCD and knowing that I might clean something five times in a day, or that I don’t open door handles. Thank you for accepting that I love squirrels and that my obsession with Asians and chocolate are just a part of who I am.

Thank you for talking about nerdy things.

Sometimes, I’m a nerd. Thanks for talking about "The Walking Dead" with me, discussing apocalypses, talking about books, studying for school, etc. You get me.

Thank you for being my workout buddy.

Running with you always makes working out better. I love that we can motivate each other.

Thank you for going on vacation with me.

I will never forget our vacations together. It was truly a time to bond and every time I felt a little closer to you. I finally felt like we were really best friends.

Thank you for the memories.

Whether it was an eleven-year friendship or not, yours means a lot to me. You are a friend worth keeping. I’ve kept as many memories of us as I can store inside my head, and I hope that I can keep adding to them. Thank you for your time.

To all of my best friends: thank you. I’m so grateful for the time that we have had together and am looking forward to all the future memories we will make.