I grew up in a small town. I went to elementary, middle, and high school with many of the same people. This made it easy to become extremely close to one another. We were all able to watch each other grow into the young adults we are today.

Friendships can be tough, but they should not have to be. When you find your core group of friends, it is easy to just be yourself and enjoy each other's company. When it comes to what I look for in a friend, being able to trust them is at the very top of the list. I feel like I should be able to go to someone for advice without having my business spread everywhere. Remember, word travels fast in a small town. Make sure you tell your trustworthy friends how much you appreciate them because they are truly a rare breed.

Being able to just sit around doing nothing, and have fun doing it, is another trait I look for in a friend. Don't get me wrong, I love to go out and try things I have never done before. But, sometimes I just want to sit in my living room with my friends without having to worry about what fun thing we have to do. Staying in and just hanging out is a great opportunity for some quality time. Take advantage of it!

I'm a firm believer in having a good balance of girl and guy friends. I never fed into the myth that girls and guys can't be JUST friends. Sometimes I need advice that only a girl can give me, and other times it's the opposite. Don't miss out on an opportunity of building a meaningful friendship simply because you aren't the same gender.