A person's whole life can change for better or worse just because of the people they have around them. Some of the best changes in my life have come from surrounding myself with the right people.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her a support system. A best friend may not always agree with your choices, and they'll usually let you know about it, but they'll be there with you regardless of the outcome. Rain or shine, heartbreak or happiness, your best friends are there to see you through.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her a family. Somehow, you just end up spending holidays with your best friend, and usually, that means their family is there too. Over time, their family becomes yours and it makes perfect sense to see their family at birthday dinners or have their kiddos call you their aunt.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her courage. Taking chances and branching out becomes so much easier when you know that your best friend will be waiting to hear all about it. Talking to that boy you think is cute isn't as hard when you and your best friend have role played that conversation a few thousand times before actually having it. Going into your hardest final isn't quite so daunting after you and your best friend stayed up all night studying even though she was done with her exams already.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her laughter. I have laughed so hard with my best friends that I swear I felt a six pack coming on. Some of the greatest nights I’ve ever had were spent laughing until I was crying and couldn’t breathe about something that probably wasn’t that funny to begin with. But with your best friend, everything is better.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her advice. Sure, I could talk to my parents or my siblings, but best friends are so much easier to approach. Best friends will tell you how it is. They won’t avoid telling you you’re wrong and they certainly won’t tip toe around telling you when you’re right in a situation. And when it comes to guy advice, nothing beats asking my best guy friend and what he thinks of the situation.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her inspiration. My best friends are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. One of them is an inspiring entrepreneur, one is a mother, one is a future educator, one is a wife and I can’t think of better people to surround myself with. They all excel in what they do and I love having their examples to push myself and inspire me to be better in every aspect of my life.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her enough pain to appreciate the good times more. I’ve experienced loss with my friends and few things feel worse than knowing your best friend is hurting and there’s nothing you can do to ease their pain. Times like these make the happy days seem so much brighter and for that I am grateful.

If you give a girl a best friend, you give her the world. Best friends are there to push you towards your goals, and to help you up when you fall. They’re there to rejoice with you during your best days and grieve with you on your hardest. Best friends help you try new things, but also enjoy the comfort and familiarity of something you’ve done before. Best friends are there to help you be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.