I always say that I'm not the type of person to become friendly acquaintances with other people. Those that I become friends with are my friends for life. I've had all of the same people in my corner since I was 4-years-old, with the exception of a few that I've picked up along the years, and I talk to them every single day. I don't know how to have short-lived, flaky friendships where you ask how the other is as a formality, and frankly, I never want to. I can consider pretty much all of my friends as one of my close friends and that is one of the biggest blessings I have ever had in my life. I'm the type of girl whose friends are her family. Even though I'm an only child, one of my closest friends really plays the role of a big sister in my life. As she puts it (she's in a sorority at the University of Tampa and a year older than me), she might have a little at her school, but she's my big too.

My big is Emily. We met when we cheered together in high school; she thought I was weird (with good jumps at least), and I thought she was a bitch. The first interaction I remember having with her was when I needed a ride home from practice one day. She told me she would drive me home but was in a bad mood after the end of practice. As I opened her car door she said, "I'm not driving you home; someone else will give you a ride," and made me close the door. I went home that night and complained about her to my parents at dinner and they were just as pissed as I was. Then a few months later, my two best friends and I were going to hang out after the state competition, and Emily said that we could all go to her house. I didn't want to go because I was still holding a grudge, but I went anyway because of FOMO. Little did I know that hanging out with her that night would be the start of an amazing friend group.

As time went on, she wasn't that bitchy captain who made me get out of her car anymore; she was one of my best friends. She, our friends Lauren, Nikoletta, Mike, and I hung out every single day. When I went to Brown University in Rhode Island for a summer program, she and Lauren drove four hours just to come and see me for the day. Em and I spontaneously woke up at 5 a.m. one morning and drove upstate to go hiking and paddle boarding and that's not even the craziest road trip we've ever taken—the craziest being that one time we drove home to New York from college for Fall Break and surprised all of our friends and family. Every time we're together, whether it's doing something random like that, just going for a Coldstone run, or going to Long Beach at night, I know that it'll always go down as a good memory. She helped me find my independence again, rediscover who I am by myself, trust my instincts, stand up for myself, and I think that's what being a big is all about.

She didn't have to take on the responsibility of taking me under her wing, but she did anyway and I am forever grateful. I mean, I don't know anyone else who would drive over 30 hours within the last month just to come and see me, even though she's in Tampa and I'm in Tennessee. We make fun of each other, love each others' parents just as much as our own, and wouldn't change our friendship for the world. I know sometimes we want to kill each other or yell about random things, but it's only because we care too much (and maybe we're a little too protective too — "No mercy"). I remember once her mom said that she can tell that us four girls are the kind of friend group that sticks even when you're 50– the "not real aunt that spoils your kids" kind. I know that both of us were going through a really tough time when we became friends and I think that timing worked out for a reason.

I hate that our friend group made Emily sad to leave for college, but I'm so happy that we gave her a reason to want to stay. She is always going to be one phone call away and is one of the few people who never makes me question that. We never thought it would, but college has made us even closer because it shows how much effort we're willing to put in to stay close and see each other as often as possible. Thank you, Emily, for being so close by, even though you're 600+ miles away, and thank you for being my big. I love you, Em, even though I can't go to McDonald's with you anymore, and you're tired of my random fun facts.

I may not be in a sorority, but I totally have a crazy, trustworthy, (almost) funny, amazing big that I wouldn't trade for anything.