The people you hang out with strongly influence who you are and make a pretty big impact on your day-to-day life. Some people prefer having big friend groups with many acquaintances and some people like having a small group of close friends. Both of these social structures are wonderful and work well for different people. To each his own. I just want to caution strongly against a pattern that I've fallen into time and time again – putting all of your eggs in one basket. Please don't do it. This advice applies to many aspects of life, but especially your friends. I know that it's fun and exciting to have that one person you do everything with. However, even if you are absolutely positive that you're never going to get into a fight or get tired of each other, it's important to have other friends in your life as well.
Imagine that you have a friend who you do everything with. Suddenly, that person makes a new friend and starts giving half of their time to this newby. Well, great for them, but now you need someone or something else to occupy your free time. Trust me, it's not fun feeling jealous or blown off because your very best friend has another best friend.
Now Imagine that you want to do something adventurous and spontaneous but your best friend is busy. I would hope that you have other options, because going on adventures is the most fun with people you're comfortable around.
When it comes to relationships, be especially aware of this. As involved as you are with your boyfriend/girlfriend, keep up with your other friends too. Dedicating all of your time to your significant other is bound to distance you from your other friends eventually. It's all about balancing the important people in your life as opposed to letting one be the center of your world. Especially while you're still young and it's not time to settle down yet.
My point is, always surround yourself with multiple people that you love and trust. Whether it's just 5 close friends or 20 close friends, or even 50, try to build connections with more than one person. Things change, life goes on and you need a strong support system. You never want to feel alone. Personally, I have some friends that are great study buddies and other friends that I take to the mall with me. Some friends that give awesome advice and others that are always down to grab froyo when I'm craving it hardcore. If you put all of your eggs in one basket, you're taking a risk. You're setting yourself up for disappointment. By all means have a best friend that you love and cherish, just keep some other ones in your life as well.
