After high school, I underestimated the impact of not being on a cross country/track team anymore. Of course, I still joined club sports, but it will never be the same not seeing your favorite people 6 days a week, 2+ hours a day.

When I got to college, I was no longer had a team (or any friends, really) so I started running alone, and it was probably the worst feeling ever. I would ask friends if they'd want to come run or workout with me, but I realized my high school team was extremely competitive. Even though I was swinging on and off JV and Varsity then, feeling like I wasn't an asset to the team, when I'd tell people about it in college, they would not want to run with me.

I joined the running club, but quit soon after because it wasn't challenging enough. But before I did, I crept on the roster of names and stalked on Facebook, and messaged someone who also ran cross country in high school.

She never messaged back until the end of the semester. But, she was on the lacrosse team, and during practice, I thought, this girl can't sprint to save her life, BUT she's a runner. (Sorry no hard feelings, Maria).

Running is one of my favorite things in the world. It always feels good to get fresh air and get those endorphins running. The best part about running alone was that I was alone with my thoughts. But freshman year I was always alone. I didn't have many people to talk to.

My thoughts were overwhelming me. So, to have that one person to run with made all the difference because the best part about running was that I got to talk to someone for an hour.

It was awkward because we've never talked until we started running together. But, it's so easy to bond when you both love to run. Believe it or not, we actually ran at the same meet in high school without even knowing.

We would rant about all our regrets and struggles in high school whether about running or not. We would contemplate about what to major/minor in at NYU. And now we talk about all sorts of random things like the water levels rising too high in the Hudson, how we're the poor ones in our friend groups, and about poop.

Now we're more than just running buddies; I think I'd have to say you are the one best friend I made at school, even after we both studied abroad during two different semesters. We literally run every morning and do homework together every night.

If you're passionate about something, whether it's running, singing, drawing, making videos, anything, find a friend who will with you, or sing with you, etc.

One time, I overheard girls talking during rush week for greek life, and every time they would say things like, "I wanted to find a friend group," "I hope to make some friends," and I'd admit I've thought of joining something, anything, just to make some friends, to have that niche.

I'm glad I didn't. I have the coolest friends in the world. From studying abroad, from lacrosse, and even some friends from class. But I think these friends don't know me as well as all the friends I've made from lacrosse and running.

Just do yourself a favor and find a running buddy!