To The High School Friends I Have Grown Apart From

Flashback to May of 2016. We are all lined up for graduation day. Our faces are filled with smiles and optimism of what the future has in store for each of us. After the ceremony, we take pictures in T-shirts that proudly represent our future college, and we go out for a celebratory lunch. After a memorable summer break, we took off in different directions all over the country.

Fast forward a year and a half. I’m sitting on a college campus that none of you attend. I don’t see your faces every day like I once did in high school, and quite honestly, I haven’t talked to a few of you in over a year. I don’t believe it’s because of lack of effort. We are all just caught up in our own universities, new friends, and busy schedules.

Since I have last seen some of you, I have invested time in playing college soccer, joined a sorority, started a sports broadcast show on my campus, worked college game days for ESPN, written stories for student media, have a part-time job, and somehow maintain a social life.

To the typical person, this might seem overwhelming. To my friends from high school, though, I know that we expect nothing less from each other because we were (and still are) all like this… busy, successful, and slight overachievers.

To those of you who I haven’t seen in a while, I know you're doing amazing things, and let’s be honest, I still keep up with the basics on each of you. To the cheerleader who had dreams of making it to the collegiate level one day - you did it (go pokes).

To my friend who is off in Arizona, I’m so proud of you for getting accepted into nursing school. To the sweet soul at Indiana, your personality is a true gift to that university.

To all of the others, there is nobody else I would have wanted to spend grades 6-12 with. Even if we don’t see each other often, you all hold a special place in my heart. There is no shame in investing in ourselves for these four years of college.

We have dreams to chase, and we are trying to make our mark in this crazy world. When it comes down to it, I want all of you to know that I will always be there for you. If you need a shoulder to cry on, friend to laugh with, or anything else, please never hesitate.

P.S., Let’s have a reunion soon.