One of the greatest things to come out of my time at college is the people I have met along the way. Friendships I had never known were possible have blossomed as I have found people whom I know I will be friends with for the rest of my life.

It’s so nice to know that at random times when I want to just go see somebody, I can head over to their room without any announcement. A quick knock on the door, and the next second I’m sitting on the ground with my best friend. Oh, she was watching “The Office”? I guess I know what I’ll be doing for the next five hours.

When I’m sad, I have someone who will come over and sit with me. Maybe I don’t want to talk about what happened, so instead she’ll just stay in my room and try to make me laugh. Within ten minutes, I’m on the floor with my sides hurting, and I have completely forgotten why I was feeling down in the first place.

When I’m angry, I have someone I can vent to. I can storm over to her dorm room and start spouting off stupid things like how I didn’t get a good grade on a test. Instead of trying to assure that I’m doing well in school, I have someone who will just listen and get angry right along with me. It’s cathartic and one of the most helpful things someone can do for me.

When something good happens in my life, I have someone who wants to hear every detail. Even if I don’t text her right away, I can always count on an all-caps text asking how something went or wanting more details on a post I made on social media. I have someone who is rooting for me every step of the way.

When my self-esteem is low, I have people who will make sure that I am brought out of that rut. I am showered with empowering words, praises, and anything else you can imagine. It’s hard for me to think negatively about myself when I have people who surround me with positivity.

Most importantly, my friends are beautiful, intelligent, funny, caring, positive, inspiring, and empowering people. I am so lucky to be surround by such amazing folk, and they make me strive to be a better person every single day of my life. I am sure they don’t know how much I appreciate them, so to all my friends that I guarantee to be lifelong: I love you.