I have always been a shy introvert. Having been to three different schools before starting at Brandeis, I have friends from all over the place, but I never did a good job at maintaining friendships. So when I graduated from boarding school last June, I was scared out of my mind that I would lose some of my closest friends, the people I have called my family for the past three years, the same way I lost touch with many of my former classmates at my previous schools. To add to the already over-whelming fear, I knew that it would be even harder to keep in touch with them – meeting up in person, or even a video call, seems dramatically more difficult when almost all my friends live in other cities and countries. I couldn’t even see them over break if I wanted to.

Over the summer, my friends from boarding school and I kept in contact (thank goodness for iMessage and Facetime), but as we moved in to our respective colleges, went through orientation week and started classes, we barely had time to talk or text constantly. As you may expect, I did in fact lose touch with some friends – I realized I only became friends with them because I saw them every day. It hurts a little, but it makes me treasure the relationships that did last.

As for those I remain in touch with, whether they are in Boston, New York, Burlington or even Florence, Italy, they remain some of my closest confidants and biggest fans. Their encouragement, strength and love continue to inspire me to be a better, stronger person every day. Even though we don’t talk or text all the time, I know they are always here for me, the same way I am only a phone call away; our friendships continue to grow despite the distance.

For me, having lived in such a close-knit community for three years, I feared that the friends I would make in college would not match up to the ones I had in boarding school. I even tried to rush a sorority in hopes of finding the same kind of connections. Even though that is not the path I ultimately chose to take (for now), I still met some amazing people who I now call my best friends at Brandeis. We have known each other for a semester or so now, but like my friends from home and boarding school, they are just as kind and genuine. Their love, as well as the love of so many others, is one of the most precious things I know.

Friendship is a strange thing. One of my former teachers and mentor once told me, “Friendships are voluntary. Unlike family, they have no obligation to stay.” And the best part is, my friends stayed anyway.