There is this stigma of being “stuck in your hometown”. People who fall under this category are often assumed as unsuccessful, immature and incapable of making new friends. But I argue this could be an indicator of extreme success, love and support.
When you go away to college, people assume that your best friends from high school will fade out of your life. You make new relationships in a new environment that lends itself very well to devoting more time and energy, after all dorm living is a whole new world. But that was not the case for me. Don’t get me wrong, I have made friends at college that I know I will have for life, but it is hard to trump the friendships I have with 7 special girls from home.
You see, we grew up together. We kicked dirt around at our sibling’s sporting events. Our playdates turned into high school double dates. Crying in our mothers’ arms at preschool drop off turned into crying in each other's’ arms after our first real heartbreaks.
These girls know everything about me. They saw my awkward bangs phase and still wanted to be friends with me. Even when I tested the limits with some pink and purple hair, they stayed true. They have seen me succeed and they have most definitely seen me fail. There is no one I can laugh harder with (or at, for that matter).
What surprises people most is that we all could not be more different. Yet we will always and forever be each other’s biggest fans. From theatre, cheerleading, volleyball, pageants, skiing, soccer and dance, you name it and someone in our group was doing it. You bet your ass we were the loudest ones in the crowd cheering each other on, no matter what the event.
Now the seven of us are at six different colleges but we always manage to stay in touch. Groupme has essentially become the 8th best friend in our group. Every time something exciting happens in our lives, we immediately think of each other first to share the big news. Three years into college, I do not see this changing and I am so incredibly proud that we kept the promise to always remain friends and defy the odds against us.
To quote Sex and the City: “You're the loves of her life, and a guy would be lucky to come in fourth.” Or in my case, seventh.
I love you weirdos.
