As a lot of people may know, friends can come in many different shapes and forms. For instance, I would say my dog is my friend but I would also say that my classmates, my siblings, my teammates, my coworkers and my sorority sisters are my friends as well. You can meet friends in a variety of places and ways. I myself am very fortunate to have many people that I consider to be friends and some that I even consider to be best friends. This article though is dedicated to my two all-time best friends: this is for you guys.

I don’t think I could ever tell you guys enough how much you both mean to me. Without you, I would not be the person that I am today. You both have had such a positive impact on my life, I can only hope to be half the people you guys are. Through the ups and the downs, you both have been there for me. You are always just a phone call away and you’re always available for a hug or a good laugh. For these reasons, I can never thank you enough.

As I got older, some of my childhood friendships started to fade as we grew apart. However, you guys were always there for me, you never left. In fact, our relationship only got stronger with time. While most went out on a Friday night, we would eat cereal and watch cop shows together. It got to the point that I would turn down other plans, and I still do, in order to just spend a relaxing evening with you both. We behave like little children together too: pretending to shoot each other and dramatically dying or tapping each other on the shoulder and then “mysteriously” vanishing pretending that nothing ever happened. These kinds of memories seem so simple but when we are apart for the school year, they are the memories I miss the most.

You both have taught me so much since our friendship began. You have showed me what it means to be a caring human being. You both taught me to give back to the community and to be selfless. That sometimes the right decision is not always the easiest. That when people try to bring you down, just let their comments roll off like “water off a duck’s back”. That it is okay to be anxious just as long as you understand that in the end, everything will eventually be okay. That sometimes today may not be your day but that doesn’t mean tomorrow won’t be. You taught me how important it is to be passionate in life and to work as hard as you can. That turning to love can help solve any problem that you face in life. Whether it’s showing love to other people or to yourself.

Thank you for all the times I called you crying and you sat with me on the phone in the early hours of the morning. Thank you for always knowing what to say to make me laugh or to cheer me up. For comforting me after all those lacrosse games I was benched in. For all the hours you travelled by plane and car to watch me play the game I love. Thank you for introducing me to the game I love too. Thank you for putting me first and putting yourself on the backburners even when sometimes you needed support yourself. Thanks for being goofy with me and letting me pick which restaurant we go to when it is just the three of us. For setting aside whatever you are currently doing to help me complete a task. For all those hours you helped me through math problems and all the times you edited my essays (sometimes up to five times each). For being people to confide in and for listening to me talk for hours on end. Thank you both for everything you guys do. I would not be where I am today if it were not for you.

In fact, I would not even be here today if it were not for you both. Literally. Mom and Dad, thank you for being you. Thank you for being my two closest friends. You guys are some of my hardest goodbyes when I leave for college. I love you both so much, thank you