Friendship is kind of a weird thing. Everyone needs and wants friends, and over time, we make more than we keep. Friends change and as we grow older, we realize who grows with us and who we grow apart from. Sometimes it’s for a very valid reason, and other times there’s really no explanation. The friends we make in college, however, can be the ones that sometimes teach us the most about ourselves.

Like friendship, college is sort of an odd thing. It’s this in-between time in our lives where we aren’t kids anymore, but we’re not really adults. We’re all transitioning from being young and clueless to slightly less young and clueless. We learn a lot about ourselves in our early twenties, and I think that the friends we have along that journey teach us some of the most important lessons we learn in our young lives. These are five things my college friends have taught me.

First, I’ve learned that everyone is different. I think this is something that we’re all taught and recite growing up but you don’t really realize how true it is until you go away to school. People seriously come from all over, and have completely different upbringings, experiences, and views than you may have ever considered. Some people might act in a way you would never think of acting, and you start to realize that this is okay, you’re just different. Staying true to yourself in these moments is vital.

Second, I’ve learned that it is important to not let things get to you, and not to overthink. I personally have a terrible habit of focusing way too much on the negative things that happen to me instead of just letting them roll off my shoulders and pushing forward. One friend in particular has taught me how to truly not care, but in a good way, and how to use that free mind space to be happy.

Third, I’ve learned the importance of sticking up for myself. I was never a pushover, and I’ve certainly always spoken my mind, but I think since I’ve been in college, I have learned this on a deeper level. Knowing when and how to defend myself is something that I’ll carry with me always. Sometimes being aggressive works.

Fourth, I’ve learned how to laugh. I mean truly, deeply laugh. I have one friend that is literally always laughing and always finds a way to stay positive about everything. No matter what happens, she finds a way to laugh about it, and I think that’s really admirable.

Fifth, always, always work hard. There are definitely days that I feel like slacking, but whenever I feel like this I always remind myself of another friends’ work ethic. It’s definitely okay to take a break sometimes, but it’s also important to remember when that break is over, and when to start focusing again.

My friends I’ve made thus far in college are some of the most level-headed, kind people I’ve ever met. They give great advice and are always there for me. I’m really glad they are here to go through my twenties with me.