I've been alive for 18 years. That means I've had a good amount of friends come and go.

When I was younger, I spent my days outside, playing with my neighbors. My street was small, with only seven houses on it, and four of them contained kids my age. They were the first group of friends I had. We went to different schools, but when we came home, we spent hours outside.

Sadly, they all eventually moved away one by one. They taught me what friends are.

From kindergarten to second grade, I only really had one friend in school who I relied on. We went through hell and back together, but she left the school in third grade. Being in different schools didn't stop us from being best friends, though, because we're still close to this day. She taught me that it's okay to be different.

In fifth grade, I made friends with some sixth graders and became really close with one. I went over her house all the time and we did arts and crafts. I even went to a water park in Wildwood with her family one time. We eventually drifted apart when I started to make some new friends. She taught me that it's okay to branch out to new people, even if they aren't going to be forever friends.

In sixth grade, I became close with this girl from this drama program that I did on Thursday nights. We both had similar interests and we were the ones who didn't care how "weird" we were when we were at Drama. We stayed somewhat close until my freshman year of high school and then we drifted apart as well. She taught me how to be a friend.

Sometime throughout my middle school years, I became super close to someone who went to my church. We had the same birthday and we were born 12 hours apart. We were really close until we drifted apart in high school when we both made new friends and got busy. She taught me that people will make time for you if they care about you.

In seventh grade, I became close to this guy. I told him a lot about the shit I was going through and he was good at listening. He was my go-to, but, like everyone else, we drifted apart in high school. He taught me how to open up.

In seventh and eighth grade, I became close to this girl in my grade because of typical middle school drama between her and another girl in the grade. We were always getting in trouble together, but it was fun. We went skating and had a sleepover every Friday night. We walked around town after school on the nice days and she asked my mom to be her sponsor for Confirmation.

Again, like everyone else, we drifted apart through high school. She taught me that you don't have to care about what others think and that you should do whatever the hell you want to do.

In high school, I had a couple of best friends. Each year, I got closer to new people. I'm not going to tell the stories for each one, but just know that they all helped me become who I am today. They all taught me how to tell if someone is a real friend.

Looking back at all the friends that have come and gone throughout my 18 years on this planet, I realize that they were all in my life for a reason. I've let go of any negative feelings towards any of them because what happened in the past is in the past. I knew them then, but I don't know who they are now.

Thank you to anyone who has come into and left my life. You all taught me lessons and showed me things that I will not forget. Even if you're out of my life at this point, I'm here and the past doesn't matter. People change, but the lessons and memories remain.