For many people when they're asked the million dollar question of "Who's your best friend?" they can spit out a name in a split second, but I am not ashamed to say that isn't the case for me. This is not because I don't feel as if I have any true friends, but instead due to the fact that I have so many amazing people in my life that I know I can turn to for a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Not only that, these friends also come from a broad range of social groups and activities. You shouldn't limit yourself based on one group of people you interact with. All of the friends you make play an important role in your life.
College is the ultimate melting pot of possible friendships. Everyone has a unique schedule, most days I pass someone whom I've never seen before. Those familiar faces make the stresses of college a little more bearable. The guy from down the hall or even your biology lab partners that you only see once a week. We're all just trying to make it through, and a smiling face always makes it easier. Many of the friends that I have made in college so far are individuals that I have met in my college marching band. Almost every day out of the week we spent two or more hours with this group of people doing something we all enjoy, playing music. These friendships have carried over to the classroom as well. I hardly ever find myself not knowing anyone in my class or eating alone in the dining hall. The friends I've met in college are people I can go to for homework help or someone to hang out with on a Friday night.
Going to an in-state school means that many students I went to high school with also chose to attend the same university. I am fortunate enough to have a very supportive group of friends from high school that I still keep in touch with, even though many of us are hours away. I'll be honest, it's hard to keep up with these friendships, it takes effort. Many of us only get to see each other on break, and are busy with homework and other activities during the semester. I feel that high school friends are still just as important through these next stages of our lives, though. These are the people who knew you when you were in sixth grade with a bad haircut. They're not here to judge. They're the ones who will reassure you that failing one test isn't the end of the world. No longer having the routine of high school doesn't mean that's where your friendships with them have to end, in some cases this is how you learn which of those friends are here to stay.
Don't be the person who's afraid to keep in touch with their friends from high school, but don't be afraid to meet new people in college, even people you didn't expect to become friends with. Friendship is one of the most rewarding gifts that we can experience. As we grow and mature, our needs shift, and our relationships with others must change to accommodate that. Sometimes people don't fit into that shift, and that's okay, but it's important that we keep those who are in for the long haul along with us.
