Growth is a natural part of human life. We go through phases that change and morph us into the people we eventually settle into. Throughout the years I spent in public schools, I went through many types of friend groups.

As a kid, I never really put much thought into why I didn't hang out with the same kids I met in kindergarten.

The way I saw it, he or she wasn't in my class anymore, or they had a different lunch than me. And as a child, I was not equipped with the communication skills to keep in touch.

Now as an adult, I realize how bittersweet it is outgrowing a friendship.

Maybe it's a new job, new school, distance, or simply just realizing you like to hang out with other people more than the people you used to spend time with.

College makes this process go by faster seemingly overnight. It's not as if you planned to not hang out anymore, it just happens. The very nature of college allows you to meet new people.

You quite literally live with strangers that turn into friends. Humans interact with the people they are the closest to, so the proximity just makes things easier; it's more convenient.

As hard as you try to maintain the way things used to be while going through a huge developmental stage, it is inevitable you will lose that fight.

And if you are sacrificing opportunities that you know you'll never have again just to still make time for your old friends, with their support, it turns into something toxic.

It's not anyone's fault as to why you become more distant, you're growing and it's perfectly natural.

The way I see it, since we as people go through many different phases in our lifetime, different people are around for each phase. Sometimes it works out to where both parties understand they're growing apart.

This doesn't mean it's over, but maybe they'll catch up in the future.

I've been fortunate enough to manage to keep some of the friendships I've had since elementary school, and I think this is we not only because grew together, but helped each other grow.

Genuine relationships are selfless and understanding, and some people in your life can't be around for your growth, and that's perfectly okay.