Starting from my early years in school I had a lot of best friends but for some reason, they never stuck around.

I met my first best friend while I lived in Ecuador. We grew up together and met sometime during our Pre-K or Kindergarten years, I really can’t remember. Coincidentally, we had the same last name and used to consider ourselves sisters. Yet our friendship only lasted until I was 8-years-old before I was brought into the U.S. Since my departure, I didn’t hear from her until seven years later when one day I found her on Facebook. We added each other but things weren’t the same. The conversation was oddly boring and a bit awkward. We grew up, but most significantly, we grew apart.

My second best friend I met here in the U.S. My parents enrolled me in a private Catholic School near my house and she became one of my best friends. She helped me with the language and never made fun of me because of it. She was a very happy person and we always hung out in class, at lunch time and during recess. I attended Saint Joseph’s Catholic School for two years until they hit an economic struggle and had to close. Unfortunately, that’s where our friendship also ended. The last thing I knew about her is that she moved to Georgia.

The last and closest friend I once had I met during eighth grade. Our friendship started off because we both liked the same guy, but he liked her cousin. We then teamed up and decided to comfort each other and became close friends. We overcame many obstacles like her moving in with her dad and having to switch schools. We also weren’t able to attend each others graduation. After high school, she ended up moving back and going to the same community college as me. We reunited, but not for long.

She engaged in a relationship and I was happy for her, but it made her change. She started to act differently and I began to notice. We ended getting into a really big argument that almost got physical (because she tried to hit me), and that’s when I knew she crossed the line. I was tired of it, it wasn’t who she used to be. I tried to make our friendship work but it was hopeless. I haven’t spoken to her in three years.

I later on became close to another friend from high school. She considered me her best friend and eventually I did too. Yet, just like every other best friend, it didn't last.

I continued with my life, received my associate's degree and then transferred to the University at Albany. The first day of Transfer Orientation, I made a friend. Strangely, we’re both Ecuadorian and Journalism majors.

I think each friend, whether they stay or go will teach you something.

She helped me see the world in a different perspective, especially with food. I never knew what a vegan was until I met her. I didn’t even know that term existed.

I also consider her the American version of an Ecuadorian. Besides her being born here, she speaks to her parents in English opposed to when I speak to mine in Spanish. I listen to a lot of contemporary Hispanic music and she doesn’t always know the songs. No matter what though, we still feel a similar connection when it comes to our culture. I have learned about her indigenous background and it surprised me to know that she knows of her ancestors, unlike me, and I was born there.

I always tell her I feel as if we met for a reason, and she seems to agree. Forwarding to now, we’re seniors at UAlbany and currently housemates on our third semester.

Don’t people say that college is where you meet your true friends? I hope it’s true.

I know not everyone can relate because I’ve seen people who’ve remained friends since Kindergarten. Yet, I can’t say that a friendship lasts forever because I’ve experienced way too many that haven’t.

Yet, I’m happy it didn’t make me bitter. On the other hand, I learned not to depend on anyone and especially to do things on my own. It helped me to mature but also be picky with who I actually call a friend, and especially a “best friend.”

Nevertheless, I’m grateful for meeting them. Although the friendships were temporary I learned from each one of them and shared experiences that now are just memories. Most significantly, part of its process shaped me into who I am today.