Mom always told us, “You’ll find your true best friend when you go to college.” I never really believed her until I met my true best friend. As you begin your first year of college, I hope that you keep an open mind and remember this when searching for your true best friend.
The friendships you make in college won’t be like they were in high school. College is a lot different than high school. In high school your friends were probably your friends because there weren’t a lot of options -- everyone had to be “friends.” In college you can choose who you want your friends to be. Take advantage of this, and find someone who suits you best.
Don’t compare your high school best friend to your college best friend. Everyone is different, and everyone has a different way of being a friend. Odds are your high school best friend won’t be anything like your college best friend. Accept it, and strengthen your friendship with both of them -- even if by some bizarre coincident they have the same name like mine do!
Be open to trying new things. All friendships have their own traditions. If you aren’t willing to try the things your new friend loves, you might not have a true best friend in the end. My true best friend loves haunted houses and tomatoes. As you know, haunted houses and tomatoes weren’t my thing in high school, but because of my true best friend, I am growing to like them both, and we now have a yearly tradition of going to haunted houses.
Make new memories. Reminiscing about high school can be fun, but your college friends will have no idea what you’re talking about. Don’t spend your days laughing at high school memories. Spend your time making memorable college memories. This will be the foundation to your friendship with your true best friend.
Don’t make judgements. She knows someone I know -- who cares? She’s outgoing, and I’m not -- who cares? She’s not in volleyball -- who cares? She’s not a nursing major -- who cares? Your true best friend might be your total opposite, or she might be very similar to you. Either way be sure not to make judgements when meeting possible friends. You’ll know if there’s a potential for a true best friend kind of friendship.
Don’t panic if it takes awhile to find your true best friend. I found my true best friend in my first week of college, but it might take you a week, a month, or even a year to find yours. Be patient and remain calm. She’s out there somewhere -- probably looking for you.
I’ll always be one of your true best friends. There’s no doubt in my mind that you will find that true best friend in college, and I can’t wait to meet her and become friends with her as well just like you’re friends with mine. However, always remember you and I will forever be best friends, and no other friendships can stop that.
As your search for your true best friend begins, I hope that you listen to my advice. After all, “If at first you don’t succeed, try doing it the way mom told you to in the beginning.” We both know Mom knows best.
