Coming to college, I really had no idea what to expect. I figured I would make a ton of lifelong friends, right off the bat, and have the time of my life. I would be on top of the world by being in multiple clubs, volunteer organizations, great classes in an excellent major and have an awesome social life.

Like everyone else who thought that, I quickly realized that school would not be so easy. It became clear that I had never thought about the logistics involved with achieving all the goals I had set for myself. In the past year and a half I have struggled to find a major, been denied from just about every club and service organization you can imagine and in the beginning, had a hard time figuring out exactly who I wanted to spend my time with.

All of the stress of college life became less of a burden when I found the people at school that have become my best friends. Some I met the first days of freshmen year, some I didn’t meet until second semester. I’m sure I will meet more of these people in my time at college (but if I don’t it’s all good because I have the best friends in the world).

Meeting people at the age of 18 is different than making friends in kindergarten. It’s awkward and nerve-wracking and it can be difficult to feel comfortable and trusting with people who feel like strangers. But maybe because you’re forced to spend so much time together or maybe because you find people who seem to understand you, these one-time strangers become some of your best friends.

So to my best friends here at college:

Thank you for being the perfect mix of personalities to spend my time with. It’s the best to know that I have friends who will stay in on a Friday and watch a movie and to know that I have friends who will drag me out of bed on a Saturday and force me to go out with them. There is never a shortage of people to hang out with, regardless of what I feel like doing, and it’s incredible to feel that I always have someone to turn to.

Thank you for laughing at my jokes. I won’t say they’re not funny but even I can admit that sometimes they are mean and/or I say them at the completely wrong times.

Thanks you for being real with me. Sometimes I act stupidly or make unnecessary judgments. I know that some of the things I want to do are not good choices, and I admire your ability to be honest with me when I’m not doing the right thing. It is important to have people who know you well enough that they can feel comfortable doing that, and I have found that in you guys.

Thank you for being the most incredible support system on my best days. I take for granted the way that you lift me up and encourage all of my decisions and achievements, but it is so meaningful to me to have that friendship around every day.

Thank you also for being that support on my worst days. Everyone has had the inevitable stress breakdown (or multiple) and it’s so important that we have people to turn to during those moments. It’s hard to be upset in college, when you can’t just hide from people or get a hug from your mom. Thank you for accepting me when I have sat on our couch randomly crying, even if you don’t understand the situation. You have all talked me down from my most upset moments at school, and I will always be grateful for that. We have all faced difficult times in our first two years of college thus far, some more emotional than others. You have shown me that I will never be alone here, or in the future, so long as I have you all.

Thank you for everything. When I pictured college I never thought about the genuine bonds I would make with people and you have all shown me that it is, and always will be, the most important part of my college career. You have all given me so much, and I hope that I can do half as much for you in the future. You have made college a home for me. At this point, you can never stop being friends with me. Sorry if you were looking to bail, I won’t let you.