I've been told multiple times that you make your lifelong friends during your college years. While that is true, those aren't the only friends I'll have 40 years from now. It can get difficult to keep in touch when at school, especially if you're hours away and don't know much about their life at school.
As the holiday season approaches and you are coming home for an extended period of time, you begin to feel a little nostalgic, thinking of all the fun times you had in your hometown years ago. You find yourself thinking, "Why did I lose touch with my friends from home?" Here are four reasons why you shouldn't even get to this point and why you should always keep in contact with your hometown friends.
1. They supported you throughout the awkward years.
We all had them. From those heinous freshman year outfits to your first high school party where you got a little too crazy, they were there for it all. The sarcastic comments and jokes about when you used to wear four sweatbands at a time (yeah, that happened) are endless. They'll never let you live it down, but as the years go by, you start to appreciate that.
2. They helped you through the hardest of times.
Whether it was something as serious as a death in the family or as sensitive as your first breakup, each and every one of them was there with a tub of ice cream and lots of laughs to make you feel better. The smallest gestures made for the best memories, memories that last a lifetime.
3. It makes coming home that much more exciting.
Everyone loves to come home to see their family as well as eat good food (finally), but coming home to your best friends makes it so much more anticipated. Instead of sitting around all winter break, you are doing fun and spontaneous things that you've never done before. You can finally catch up on life and hear about all the crazy things that are happening at each other's schools. Even if you don't know the people in the story, it just feels good to talk and laugh with each other once again.
4. They made you who you are today.
I would not be the person I am today without having my best friends by my side for the past 6+ years. They showed me how valuable friendship is and how lucky I am to have found these amazing people. Growing up with friends as funny and as kind as yours, you go through life with a much more positive attitude. When you find people this amazing, why would you just give up on it?
Friendships are for a lifetime, no matter how far away you are while at school. It may seem hard to keep in touch now, but when you are 80 years old telling your grandchildren about the fun times you had in high school, it'll all be worth it.
