One of the things that I am most grateful for in life is having my friends. As cliche as this sounds, my friends have been my lifesavers-- and I mean that quite literally. They have always been there when I have needed them to be. They are people I can count on and who I know will tell me like it is. They are some of the people I respect most, and I can always be myself around them.
My friends are always there for me; they pick me up and give me words of encouragement when I need them the most. They have willingly been with me through my lows and have always stood by me, even at 3 a.m. when I am not feeling the best. Just this week, as hard as it was, they were there for me, giving me a dose of positivity. They helped me deal with a tough situation, and they were honest with me in doing so.
Friends have come and gone in my life, and to those who are no longer here, I will say that I was touched by the time I did spend with them. At this moment, the people that are my close friends have taught me many different lessons. I have grown into a very different person from who I used to be, thanks to all the people that have entered my life.
Not only do my friends provide unlimited kindness and words of encouragement, but they are also genuinely fun people. My friends are always pushing me to try new things. I have had more new experiences with my college friends than ever before. They have gotten me out of my comfort zone. I have done more traveling with them, as well. They have also been there for some of my firsts.
Being away from my friends in high school was a huge change for me. I used to always hang out with them during the school day, but I rarely ever got to see them after the end of the school day, or even on the weekends. When I got to college, it was completely different. I lived on campus, had no car, and was all by myself. I knew no one, and I had to start completely from scratch. However, this turned out to be great, because it allowed me to really expand my own friend group. I still remember the first time I met my friends. They all came around in my life during different times of my college career.
Unlike in high school, with these friends here at college, I was able to hang out with them and see them more than just during class. I lived with them on campus. We were able to go out after the school day was over. We were able to get food off campus and spend lots of time together. This was an exciting change for me, especially coming from such a different environment.
I fully trust my friends, and I love hanging out and spending time with them. They have done a lot for me, and not only do I consider them to be close and best friends, but I can honestly say that they have become my family. They have been there in the best and worst times of my life thus far, and they have pushed me to new limits. These are the people that I am happy to call my friends.
