Change was the biggest fear I had coming into college this year. Change of scenery, change of independence, change of work load, and of course, change of friends. For me, making friends was not my concern; it was losing my old friends I worried most about.

The days leading up to move-in day didn't feel real. Just before we all left, we made a promise to be friends forever, no matter what. The original "Big Six," began to lose a member day by day until only one remained. Each goodbye-hug felt more like a "See you tomorrow," rather than a "See you on Thanksgiving."

Everyone knows texting is just not the same as in-person communication. Relying on something like technology to keep a friendship the same is useful to an extent, and I noticed this as our group chat's silence turned from days into weeks.

People are busy, college is exciting, and work loads are not holding up to accommodate our social lives. We all get caught up in our separate lives and life goes on. But I soon realized this "break" from each other was a test on our friendship, and it is something we could pass with flying colors.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving break. It's November 22nd and I have just pulled up to one of my best friend's houses for our first sleepover since July. I walk inside and everything is the same, three of my best friends seated at a round table, blasting country music, and eating pizza bagels (their favorite). For a second everything feels normal again; and it was in that moment I realized we have the power to defy the stereotypical diminish-of-friendships during college years.

Within the next hour, all six of us are surrounding the round table in the kitchen. As we sat there, laughing louder than ever, I felt different.

The hardest part about coming home for the holidays, or just coming home at all, is the realization that this isn't your actual home anymore. Hanging out with my best friends becomes a privilege, not a leisure, and that has been one of the most difficult adjustments.

On the real, our friend group needed a separation like this. Being a group of girls with six completely different personalities is hard to accommodate sometimes. Fortunately, college allowed gave us a break and time to realize the value of our friendship.

It really is true that you don't realize what you have until it's gone. Though there are times when my best friends have gotten under my skin, I wouldn't trade any of them for the world. As I head home within the next week, it'll be another opportunity to appreciate every waking moment with my best friends.

Contrary to popular belief, I still call those five girls my best friends. College is a time to figure out who we are, but it's so important to stay true to who you are, and never forget where you came from. I'm glad we kept our promise.