For most of my life, I've been a one-best-friend kind of person. I am kind and friendly so I had many friends at school, but I was so shy I never really let a lot of people into my personal life.

My first best friend (who wasn't my sister) was Katelyn, and we were practically inseparable. I have so many memories with her, like being obsessed with "The Phantom of the Opera," passing doodles in class and painting our arms and legs with that liquid inside of glow-sticks (although that probably wasn't the best idea).

Things were great, but then my family decided to move across the country in order to be closer to my dad's parents. Katelyn and I wrote letters to each other for awhile but drifted apart after time. She and I are Facebook friends though so I wonder if she'll read this?

Within the first week at my new elementary school, I became best friends with Miranda. That was 2005, and now nearly 11 years later we are still best friends and pretty much planning the rest of our lives together. We sat next to each other in class, and it just clicked.

I knew that she and I were meant to be besties. We created a fictional restaurant/movie theater/arcade together and drew the layout of the building, as well as every mascot. Too many mascots. We even made the salt and pepper shakers into mascots. We got pretty intense.

But that was our first experience as best friends, and we've had so many more. There was a period we call "The Dark Ages," where we went to different middle schools and lost touch for a bit. Then, out of the blue, she invited me to her birthday party, and we were back on track. I love her. I could talk about Miranda for days, so I'll stop now.

This all lines up with my one-best-friend history, but sometime in 6th grade I accumulated another close friend, who in time became a best friend. Abby and Miranda did not get along in elementary school, but Abby and I stayed in contact through middle school, and after Miranda and I reconnected the three of us were a squad. I felt weird calling both of them my best friends, but I did because they were.

Middle school is kind of a blur. Sara became a part of the squad at some point, then Miranda, Abby and I lost touch with her after awhile. I had a lot of good friends and a few best friends. Stephan, Leah, Kelsey, Heavenly--there were so many close friends. Meanwhile, Abby, Miranda, Sara and I were still a squad. This is all really hard to figure out chronologically.

Anyway, sophomore year I became best friends with Caitlin, who introduced me to Erica at a birthday party. That night Erica and I talked about our lives for hours until I fell asleep, and after that we were best friends.

Again, it just clicked. This was a person I always wanted to have in my life, and still do. We had so many adventures together, but also experienced a lot of hardship together. We were both going through some tough things that didn't always make the friendship easy, but I never wanted it to fade away. I love her. Sometimes I cry when I think about everything she helped me through.

Then, during senior year, Caitlin and I had a falling out. It was sucky, and I hated it so I'm not going to talk about it. What made it worse was that Abby and I had a falling out around the same time so I felt like a piece of shit. However, that same year Allie and Lauren became two new best friends. They, Erica and I were (and still are) a squad. Just look at us:

I love them. And because I live in a SLU (a themed house on campus), I live with eleven other crazy-close friends, and several others have graduated already. They're the cutest! I have the cutest housemates.

Anyway, before I'm overcome with emotion, I just need all of my closest friends, past and present, to know that I appreciate everything they've done for me.

Without Katelyn, I never would have had a best friend to share secrets with. Without Miranda, I wouldn't have known how to be confident in myself. Without Abby, I wouldn't have had someone to help me love myself through middle school. Caitlin taught me to be comfortable with having loud, obnoxious fun in public during the years when I was scared to stand out.

Erica showed me that even best friends fight but can have crazy adventures, dance during thunderstorms and hold deep conversations all on the same day. Allie is always a shoulder to cry on with a guaranteed fit of laughter at the end, and Lauren is one of the greatest listeners I've ever known.

To Miranda, Erica, Allie, and Lauren: Thank you! I can't imagine life without you. I know I'm not good at regularly communicating, but I always think of you. You're my four best friends, and I'm sorry if it bugs any of you a little, but it's true.

To all of my Tree Housers: Holy smokes! You're the cutest. I know I always say that, but it's true. If it weren't for you people, college would have been kinda lame. "Trousers" is a unique friendship category just for you beautiful tropical fishes. I'll stay in contact with you for the rest of my life.

To every friend I've ever had: You helped shape the person I am today. Thank you so, so much for that!