The name of the group chat may change, but the bond of the 7 of us grows each day.

From SE17IORS to our college emojis to HS 17ever Ends, we’re the same group of girls that we always were.

I can’t believe that it has been a whole three months since the last time we were all together. We went from seeing each other at school every single day, hanging out on weekends and making sure we were doing all of our group activities together to suddenly being scattered all across the East Coast. Within the first week of being apart, our group chat immediately blew up: sending pictures of our dorm rooms all set up, “I miss you guys already” texts and filling each other in on our new friends, new boys and of course, the boys from back home as well. Gradually, as expected, the group chat simmered down as we were all getting adjusted to our new lives away from home and the only texts being sent were ones telling each other to “spot insta.” I was distracted by my new classes and friends when I was asked how everyone was doing at school. I realized how little I knew about the people I used to spend every day with and was immediately homesick. I wished you guys would reach out to me but realized everyone might be thinking the same thing. So, I texted you all separately to find out how school was really going. After many smiles later, I felt settled and like I was all caught-up on your lives. From that week forward, there’s been non-stop texting in the group chat. I guess what we really needed was some time to get settled before we realized how much we were always going to need each other.

There’s a quote that goes something like this - “You never really know the importance of Facetime until it is the only thing keeping you close to the people you care the most about.”

And it is true. Random FaceTimes make it seem like we aren’t all hundreds of miles away from each other. I was really upset that I was one of the only ones who didn’t have a fall break and had severe FOMO when there were group plans without me. However, it made me happy to know that I was missed and felt like I was there because of all the videos sent in our snap group.

Honestly, there is not a day that goes by where we don’t text in our group chat: sending screenshots of conversations, filling in stories from wild nights and reminiscing on memories from high school. Now with Thanksgiving break coming up this week, our group can be whole again.

Thank you to my girls for beating the odds. No matter the distance, I know our bond grows stronger every day. I can’t wait for Friendsgiving and to be able to catch up in person. See you all so soon!!!!!!!!