We can't wait to leave our hometown, the dumb boys, "ex" best friends, our parent's rules, etc. to come to college, but what about all of the things that we will miss, like our family, pets, bed and car? For me, leaving everything behind was devastating, it felt like I would never be back. One of the things that keeps me grounded at school is my hometown friends.
1. They know your past.
When we get to school we can recreate ourselves into someone we want to be but didn't have the chance to in high school. Our hometown friends know it all, from our best times to our absolute worst.
2. The stories never stop.
From the terrible first boyfriends to the first breakup, they were there. All of the arguments that don't matter now but are hysterical to reminisce about... Don't get me started.
3. They know your people because they're their people too.
They personally know all of your other friends and your family because they were apart of your hometown life for so long. You don't have to constantly explain who someone is or show their Facebook profile picture when telling a story. Hometown gossip for the win!
4. They miss the same places as you.
I am a Jersey girl, and us Jersey girls love our Wawa. Coming to a school that does not have a Wawa anywhere close, I go through withdrawals. A majority of my college friends don't understand because they've never even tried Wawa, but my hometown friends know what's up.
5. They experienced an important part of life with you.
Never forget about your hometown friends, they experienced things with you that you will remember for a lifetime. They are the ones you did all the dumb stuff with and prayed you didn't get caught by your parents. They knew you and accepted you before anyone else.
It is hard to keep in touch all of the time, but it is so important to send a text here and there or FaceTime them. We're so used to seeing each other every day that we don't know how to make the effort to catch up, but we have to learn. It's OK to have best friends from home and from college and it's even better when you try to integrate the two. Don't block people out just because you don't see them every day — there was a point where you would spend every minute you could with them. So take your phone out and send them an old picture or screenshot, talk to them. Pretend like nothing has changed because I guarantee that when you go home and see them, everything will feel the same.
You walked across the stage with them and you will walk through the rest of your life with them.
