Going to college is a stressful experience. You do not only have to leave your family and your pets, but you are also leaving your friends. These are the people that over the last decade got to know everything about you: your fears, crushes, family and secrets. It takes a while to find those people who you can trust and consider your friends at a new school. Out of all the new people you meet and become friends with, there is no one that knows you better than the ones you left behind.

To My Friends I Left Behind,

You were always the ones who had my back; who supported me throughout the last thirteen years of my life. Over this time, we became more than friends, we became sisters. Leaving you behind as I packed up my car for college and drove off was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Watching you become smaller and smaller in my rear view mirror broke my heart. I did not know how I was going to survive the next four years of my life without you. At this time, I did not realize that even though we are hundreds of miles apart, I still had you by my side.

You are the ones I call when I feel like my life is coming to an end. I am either fighting with my mother, failing classes or just overwhelmed with life itself. When I FaceTime you and you see my face you instantly ask the question I need to hear, “What is wrong?” We have been friends for so long that you know me like you know yourself. You know how to comfort me and give me the strength to face my problems. While I sob to you that my life is falling apart, and I do not know what I am going to do, you tell me that I will be alright and that you have my back whenever I need it.

I have never met anyone like you. We can cry together, have fun together and just be ourselves. We accept each other for who we are and not what we should be. You might not be perfect to everyone, but you are perfect to me. So the next time you have to listen to me whine about my pathetic life, just know I tell you only because I love you.

Love Always,

Your Best Friend