If you looked at me with my college friends, you would think we've known each other for years. Sure, I've maintained friendships from my past, but I have also become unexplainably close to people I met in August.
We come from different hometowns, different states and different backgrounds. We have different interests and perspectives on the world. Despite our differences, we have formed an inseparable bond.
Without my college friends, I don't know how I'd get through the stress of midterms, the anxiousness of being away from home or the days filled with homework that never seem to end.
Because of the friends I've made in the past seven months, I smile a little bigger, think a little more openly and am a lot more comfortable with who I am.
We are constantly crossing paths with people who have the power to shape our lives for the better, so it's important to slow down and let some of them in.
I'm forever grateful for the people who drag me to the dining hall when I forget to eat, get ice cream with me when I've had a bad day and study beside me for hours when we have tests coming up. I owe so much to the crazy goons that quote vines with me and are always up to watch a movie.
I established a circle right away, and now I have a family of sorts in my home away from home. Most importantly, our circle is not closed; we expand and open our arms to new friends every opportunity we get.
I wonder every day what would happen if I hadn't branched out and let these new people into my life. I constantly wonder what I would do if these new people hadn't crossed my path. I think about the fact that they did, and I feel beyond blessed.
Having such a sturdy support system in college has made the tough times a lot easier, and the fun times a lot more exciting. We all need people. We need to vent. We need to share our experiences and ask for advice. And we need some of our people to be close enough to be able to talk face to face on a daily basis.
Without my circle, exploring my new setting would be much more daunting. Without my circle, homesickness would most likely creep in more often. I am lucky enough to have found people I feel comfortable telling anything and who care enough about my well-being to ask how I'm doing.
I challenge you to broaden your scope and welcome friendships with people who may not be exactly like you. Don't try too hard to find your people; they often find you when you least expect it. Just keep an open mind and a willingness to form new friendships no matter what point you're at in your life.
Don't forget about your old friends, but don't close yourself off because you think you have everything you need. We often don't know what we need until we have it. You never know how someone who is a stranger today could be family in a year.