Before I came to college this year, I'd never had a solid group of friends. I would personally have called myself a "floater," meaning I would go from group to group. There would be times I'd have some friends, then months later, I'd start getting left out of plans. I just accepted that group wouldn't want to hang out with me anymore, so I'd find some new friends. This happened for 12 years and no one really understood how hard it was for me.

Whenever this would happen, I'd think it was because something was wrong with me — I wasn't good enough or I wasn't pretty enough. Maybe I wasn't cool enough for them because I didn't do the things they did at parties, or maybe it was because I was a Christian.

I struggled with self-confidence a lot in high school and all throughout grade school. It wasn't until this year when everything changed.

When I came to The University of Alabama, I was honestly freaking out. Moving eight hours away from home was a big change — especially when I couldn't even go to summer camp for two weeks without being homesick.

My parents kept reassuring me it was all going to be ok, and these would be the best 4 years of my life. I honestly thought they were crazy. I mean, how could going to a school where I didn't know anybody be the best 4 years of my life?

Well, two weeks later I figured out the answer. My roommate Hailee and I instantly became best friends, as well as her friend from high school named Danielle. I met so many girls through my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, including Kristin, who is now one of my best friends. Danielle and Hailee introduced me to a girl named Care, who I've grown close to and attend Church of the Highlands with, as well as a small group of others.

Meeting these girls, as well as experiencing the swaps during fall semester, late night study sessions, and all the spontaneous road trips, showed me what my parents meant.

I know the friendships I've made in college will last a lifetime. For once, I'm not scared to leave the room wondering if my friends will talk badly about me. I haven't had a single fight with them since I've been at school, either. I can finally be myself and not have to worry about being judged.

These girls have truly made me love myself on a deeper level than I've ever known, and for that, I'm forever grateful.

I look at myself in the mirror now and love what I see. I'm not embarrassed of my flaws or quirks and that is a great feeling.

College can be a really scary thing — especially being out of your comfort zone so far away from home. However, I encourage others to do the same thing. Take the risk and go for it. Leave high school and make a new life for yourself. Because truthfully, it's the best decision I've ever made in my life.

These kinds of friendships are the kind everyone wants in life. These girls have made me truly realize I deserve more, that everyone deserves more.

Everyone deserves a kind of friendship where they can be themselves; where they can do funny or embarrassing things and laugh about them, or laugh for hours until their abs hurt, or go eat as much junk food as they can until they can't eat anymore.

I put up with bad friends and bad people for 12 years. No one should have to deal with that, but the friends I've made at Alabama have shown me the kind of friendship I've always deserved and I hope everyone experiences friendship like I have.

The University of Alabama has given me friends I'm forever thankful for and I'm so excited to see what the next three and a half years bring for our friendships. I'm happy to call this place my home away from home, and as always, Roll Tide.