Let me start this out by saying, I am a very independent person. I’m not afraid to go off and do my own thing or stand against the crowd if it’s what I feel is the right thing to do. I like to believe that I can conquer anything on my own if I’m willing to try hard enough (except for car washes, those things are whack). Anyways, because I am so comfortable on my own, I’ve never been the girl to have a bunch of friends. I mean, sure, in high school, I had a semi-close group of people I would talk to in the hallways and eat lunch with, but even then, I knew that these girls would not be the ones at my wedding holding up my dress while I pee.

But I never had a problem with this; I was perfectly content being on my own and calling my mom my best friend. Then I went to college eight hours away, and I quickly realized that being on my own in a new state, where I didn’t know a single person, was absolutely not going to be an option. College is scary enough, and I knew that I would not be successful if I didn’t try to find people I could surround myself with.

*Quick plug about how great Greek life is*

Even though high school me would have never pictured myself as a sorority girl, I am so thankful I took the opportunity to go through recruitment and find my “home-away-from-home." Cliché, I know, but give me a break. I firmly believe that if I would not have taken that chance, I would already have transferred back home. I finally found the girls I know will be my bridesmaids one day, and I can even picture us at 40-years old, wine drunk, and watching The Bachelor (because let’s be real, that show is going to be on air FOREVER).

So, to my best friends: Thank you for saving me. And not in the super dramatic, “I would die without you” way. I mean thank you for allowing me to find my true self. Thank you for not judging me when I eat an entire large Papa John’s pizza all on my own. Thank you for always threatening to beat up the boys who are mean to me. Thank you for going with me to the hospital when I thought I broke my nose at formal.

Thank you for being down for the craziest spring break of our lives in South Padre. Thank you for comforting me when I am so homesick, I cry at the thought of deep-dish pizza. Thank you for inviting me into your homes when you know mine is so far away. Thank you for letting me cry on your shoulder when my family life gets too much for me to handle. But most importantly, thank you for accepting me for me. That means more than any of you will ever know. I thank God every day that he brought you all into my life and made me the happiest person alive.

I can’t wait to grow old with you crazies. I’ll love you forever and ever.