Though I have only been writing for The Odyssey for several weeks now, I have noticed an influx of articles about a girl's best friend. Some, like me, write about their relationship with their mom, others about a pet that holds a special place in their heart. And while my mom is certainly one of my best friends, I have to speak out for the two girls -- my sisters and best friends -- who have stuck by my side since we met each other on bid night. Needless to say, we did not have to be in the same sorority to be best friends, but here are the top four things that make these girls so special, and why I can tell you with the utmost certainty they will be the best bridemaids in my wedding party.
1. They are not afraid to laugh at me. It's no secret to people who know me that I think I'm hilarious, given the circumstances. Needless to say, I am more awkward and weird than I am funny, and my best friends don't let me forget that. While they won't shy away from laughing at a joke when I actually crack a good one, they are more attuned to laughing at the awkward things I do, regardless of who is around. Yes, it does turn an awkward situation into one of total embarrassment, but at the end of the day, it makes the memory unforgettable -- because they were not afraid to call me out on my quirks and embrace my awkwardness for what it really is.
2. They are really good at reading between the lines. There i always a lot of talk about “what a girl really means when she says things like, “I'm fine", or, “It's okay." Yes, boys -- I hate to break it to you, but we really aren't okay, even if we say we are. My best friends are people that know exactly what's going on in my life, and will pry until I open up to them, or will leave it alone until I'm ready. They have become scarily good at reading my facial expressions, knowing when to come to my rescue when a text seems out of the ordinary and being at my side whenever I needed a friend.
Last year, amidst a horrible breakup, my two best friends made not one but two trips to bring me Ben & Jerry's and sit with me while I cried into the carton, an act that most girls who have gone through the same thing would deem true heroism. My best friends are the people who have taught me there is a difference between dealing with something alone, and dealing with something by myself with them waiting in the wings to come to my rescue.3. They appreciate my quirks. One of the most unique things about me, as my friends will tell you, is my obsession with peanut butter. I will eat peanut butter morning, noon and night every day. So, naturally, on my birthday, presents from my best friends included a surprise birthday cake and a huge jar of chunky peanut butter. That night, we sat in my room for three hours, digging into that birthday cake and that jar of peanut butter and not caring that we were sitting on the floor at 10 p.m. on a Friday night. My best friends have embraced the person I am, but more importantly, they have grown with me when I've learned what it means to grow up and accept change in myself.
4. A hug is always around the corner. While I can always count on my mom being on the other end of the line whenever I need to call her, there is something to be said about a hug always being at the ready. Whether it's a good luck hug before a test, a hug when it's over or even an embrace after being reunited after just two days, my friends never fail to welcome me with open arms. The idea that my friends will have my back extends far beyond the need for defense when it arises. My friends have my back when they tell me they're proud of me, when they tell me I look cute or have something on my face and when they reassure me that everything is going to be okay in the end. My friends are the people that will stand by my side until we are old and grey. They are, above all, the people I will thank profusely for all the stupid things I did, the laughs I had and the unforgettable memories I made as a college student.
