What comes to your head when you hear the words "best friend"? Someone who you are currently living with or have previously lived with? Maybe they were your longtime friend all through elementary school and into high school, whatever your story is, each of us has had one or two friends who we have connected with on a whole different level than anyone else.

The person who is the peanut butter to your jelly, salsa to your chips and seasoning to your ramen. Funny enough each of those foods were my best friends and I’s favorite past time snacks. Both of us had unhealthy diets, irregular sleeping schedules and a craving for attention, what mattered most to us though is that we did it together.

When you can find the friend who tries new activities on a whim, knows what you are going to say before you can even say it and navigates the way around your kitchen better than you do… You know you’ve found the one.

Of course, not everything is sugar plums and cherry pops all the times; sometimes/most of the time you will have conflicts no matter what it is, this happens because we are human. They may not always agree on things you want, and you may not always like the things they do.

But it is how you take your conflicts and settle them with communication and agreement to grow together. The strongest relationships do not boast in strength and glory, they win battles together that people know nothing about.

It is the inside jokes and secrecy that keeps things playful but mature, the outlandish creativity that we come up with when together… sometimes good/sometimes bad. But the number one assets every friendship needs to continue to learn and grow are accountability, fellowship and a shoulder to lean on.

Accountability in my life has got me to where I am today in college, without the extra push to grow in my relationships with others and being personable I would not be the same I am today.

Fellowship within my life would not have been as giving and open to change in a group. Finally, having a shoulder to lean on when you are acting like you don’t need any help but in reality, it’s all you need. A simple shoulder to help give you that extra push to succeed and grow.

Without best friends we wouldn’t have stories to tell our kids what not to do, without that partner in crime you would be blamed for everything and if I didn’t have a Nick Linhardt I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Thank you, Nick, for showing me the wild side of life and being that seasoning to my ramen, peanut butter to my jelly and Partner in Crime. #WonderBrothas