For a long time, I worried that I annoyed my friends and they were just hanging around me because they felt bad. I felt that way up to pretty much halfway through my senior year of high school. I thought maybe I was too loud or was saying the wrong things. My brain just never gave me a break, constantly making me worry about every move I made and every word I spoke.

I was able to settle into a great group my senior year and still had other close friends who were outside of this group (and were also amazing people). All of these people made me feel comfortable and it was like they understood me and accepted my weird personality.

It was really difficult leaving for college because I wasn’t going to have my friends just a few miles away. Most of them were in different states than me. The worst part was I didn’t connect with anyone my first year and once again I started worrying about every word that came out of my mouth when I talked to others.

While I’m happy freshman year is over, I know I still have another 3 at Marquette. I know that having friends at school is just as important as having them at home. For now, though, I’m home and surrounded by people who will be there for me and are always ready to do something.

The friends in my life are an assortment I never imagined I’d wind up surrounded by. I could write books about each one of them and how much they have impacted my life. I remember how lonely I felt at college, but I knew that there were still people who cared about me and would help me through whatever.

Sometimes, you get lucky and create such a strong bond with people you never thought you would. Although some were hundreds of miles away, my friends never failed to help me through this past school year. I don’t think I could ever thank them enough for all they have done, but I hope they all know I will always be there for them like they were for me.