Dear high school friends,

Right now I’m in my second year of college at a private university. Most of you are attending community college or are still in high school. Because I don’t live at home year-round any more, I don’t see most of you very often – certainly not as often as I’d like.

First of all, I know that sometimes it might look like I’ve replaced you with other people and new friends. I am in so many pictures on Facebook and do so many activities, none of which I am doing with you. And worst of all, I rarely call you or message you individually. When I come home on weekends, I don’t make much of an effort to go out and spend time with you. Instead, I hang at home and relax and do schoolwork.

But although it may seem like I don’t care anymore, that I’ve moved on in my life, and that I’ve found other people to replace you, that could not be further from the truth. I think about you, especially when I see you on Facebook spending time together and doing fun things that I used to be a part of. And I will never move on from you. I don’t ever want to lose your friendship. All of those memories – working on assignments together, making our own haunted houses, filming a movie, having huge dance parties at camp – these little things are what I miss the most. Besides just being with you, of course.

And finally, you could never, ever be replaced in my life. First of all, because you are unique and funny and creative and loving and wonderful friends, and there’s no way I could forget four years of amazing memories. But also because I care way too much about you to let you go. Yes, I have some wonderful new friends in college, and you will too. And college friends will be the friends you go to chapel with and complain about classes with and stay up late watching movies with. But high school friends are the friends you grew up with, the friends who saw you through your first serious crush, the friends who accepted you for the weird and awkward person you were in high school. And I can never thank you enough for doing all of those things for me.

I know I’ve told some of you that I miss you and want to spend time together. But those words, though true, don’t scratch the surface. What I didn’t say is how much I miss the way things used to be, the time when we didn’t ever have to worry about not seeing each other, the time when we could plan fun activities together, when we could go to prom together. To repeat myself – I haven’t forgotten these things. Hopefully I never will.

Lastly, I know that life involves change and moving on. I know that sometimes we have to let go of certain aspects of our lives as we go through college, graduation, new jobs, a new house… But some things are too special to let go of, and your friendship falls into that category. You showed me what friendship and fun and sisterhood were all about, and we made so many wonderful memories (I have the pictures to prove it). The bottom line is, I love you so much and I want to see you and spend time with you while we still can, before more of us graduate and it becomes even harder to get together.

I haven’t forgotten you. Please remember that, and please don’t forget me while I’m gone.

Love always,

Your college friend