As I finished out my first semester of college, it never crossed my mind how few people I would actually end up talking to or hanging out with over my break at home. I never had intentions of losing touch with people in my hometown, and I tried my best to keep up with how everyone was doing in their own new adventures whether it be the military, college, etc. I always thought that my high school friends and the people I grew up with would be my lifelong friends, but boy was I wrong. I wasn’t wrong in a bad way; I still manage to say hi if I see people out and about in town, but I never realized that college makes you realize who your true friends are and that it's perfectly normal to only keep in contact with a few close friends. College is a whole new experience for everyone as you create new friendships with people in a new place while getting adjusted to a whole new lifestyle.

Losing friends along the way of life is a part of growing up and I’ve finally realized that you don’t need to stay close with everyone as long as you have the ones that will always have your back whenever you need it. College is a time for finding yourself in a new chapter in your life and sometimes the “new” you doesn’t match the “old” you and that’s okay. You’re exploring new places, new hobbies and interests with new people, and of course, you’re going to naturally lose friendships out of it.

Along those lines, I have come to believe that some people were meant to come into your life for a short while, for good or bad, and you learn from them and grow. It wasn’t easy but I’ve learned to accept that it’s okay they’re no longer there and looking back in twenty years, I know it wouldn’t have made a difference in my life if they were there or not. It’s neither a benefit or a loss but it just simply makes me open my eyes to another lesson on this crazy ride. Of course, it’s not that simple just letting people out of your life after all the tears, laughs and memories made but looking back, I know it was okay to let go and maybe, just maybe, everything was meant for a reason and that something worth more will come out of it.