Everybody has that aunt, uncle, cousin, parent, etc. that have the time of their life just reminiscing on their college memories or maybe even meeting up with the college group for a weekend reunion. It seems that there is some unspoken bond that comes with a college friendship, and it’s one of those things that you just don’t understand until it happens to you, and when it does, you realize that you were just deprived of years without these people and are given four years to make it up. So, here’s a shout out to the friends that have been there with me in creating memories that I can’t wait to bore my kids with. I never understood what was so special about these kinds of friendships but now I get it, thanks to you. Here are four big reasons that I am so thankful for all the little things that you do:

1. You have been there through the most awkward transitions. Thank you for listening to me talk about my friends from home when I miss them. You care even though you don’t know them and should they come to visit I know you’d be the first to offer up your couch. You care because you know they are special to me and they are a part of who I am and where I came from and I care about your childhood friends just the same and thank them for sharing you with me and with our college town for these four (or five) precious years.
2. You watched me fall head over heels. Thanks for helping me get ready for the first date and sharing your clothes and advice with me. Thank you for listening to me talk about him and letting me gush over the sweet thing he did last week for the next month and a half. Thank you for understanding when I stay in on a Friday night to watch movies with him. Thank you for allowing him to be a part of our friendship and loving him just because I do. Also, thank you for listening to me explain our stupid argument and telling me that I am wrong because I needed that. And don’t you worry, I will do the same for you. You always have my back and I love that we all want the best futures for each other.
3. You’re always on my team, but you’re not afraid to push me. Most of the time, you agree with me and I can count on you to listen to me rant about how there is no possible way that I am going to make it out of this semester alive and with an in-tact GPA, but thank you for not being afraid to push me to be the best version of myself. I don’t think any of us knew how many times college would force us to ponder our futures, but I am so glad that I have you to keep me grounded and remind me of what I stand for when even I lose sight of that.
4. You laugh with me, and cry with me. I can only imagine how much I am going to miss our late night fast-food runs that we know we shouldn’t be going on and all the laughter we shared over the most mundane things. I can’t even count how many tags on Facebook we have exchanged whether it be goats in pajamas or some kind of food that I want you to make for me, you have been my family away from my family. Not only have we shared tears of laughter, though, you’ve been there for my tears of sorrow, stress, etc. You aren’t just here for the good times, you accept me for everything that I am - mental breakdowns included. Thank you.

All in all, I understand that weird bond people have with their college freinds now. It’s hard not to be inseparable when you’ve shared such a special and important time in life together. No matter where we end up after we get that diploma they speak of, I hope you know how thankful I am for you and how excited I am to see the wonderful things you accomplish. Here’s to making a million more memories that will make our kids cringe one day. Much love!