~Co-Written by Kalina Miyazaki~

On our last night, we piled into the Rav one last time. Hours of driving led us only a few miles down the road, where we parked at the place where our friendship had grown for seven years - Mad Willies. That little ice cream shop had witnessed middle school gossip sessions, meltdowns over boys and infinite complaints about our completely 'unreasonable' parents. It had witnessed us grow from giggling eleven year-olds, to ambitious eighteen year-olds, ready to take on the world before us. Our teeth are free from braces now (thank god), our clothing and makeup style has changed (THANK GOD) and our interests have changed, too. But throughout the awkward, hilarious, terrible, fantastic years, the friendship that existed between the three of us remained unwavering. From sixth to twelfth grade we continued to laugh with (and at) each other. We continued to plan adventures every chance we could. We continued to lean on one another when life wasn't kind.

On our last night, we ate our ice cream slowly and tried to ignore the sense of finality that filled the air. It was the end of an era, the end of attending the same school and seeing each other every day. The end of chatting early in the morning before homeroom started and skipping first period because frankly bagels were way more important. On our last night we sat in the car and bawled our eyes out, terrified that distance and change would ruin our years of friendship and nothing would ever be the same.

I often think back and laugh at how scared we all were. Nearly two years later and it's clear that we have all kept our promises to one another. We may not see each other everyday anymore but the friendship, that unbreakable bond that we share, has remained in tact.

Friendship is about effort. It’s about making time to call and text and FaceTime, even when were miles apart. It’s about planning weekend road trips and eventful reunions.

You see this friendship is special. Not one of us has found a friendship quite like the one that we have been blessed with all these years. In fact, college has made us even closer if you can believe it. Physical distance has allowed our emotional and mental connections to blossom. College has shown us just how significant we are to one another.

These girls have resiliently loved me at times when I have felt very unlovable. These girls have lifted me up when I have been very low. These girls have continued to make me laugh, continued to believe in me, continued to amaze me for nine wonderful years.

These are the girls that will stand with me on my wedding day. These are the girls that my children will call 'auntie'. These are the girls that I have grown up with, these are the girls that I will grow old with.

Happy ninth year of friendship. Here's to many more.