Throughout all my college career, there have been many people that have come and gone through my life. Some people that I had in class that became my classmates, some became the people that were just some part of the crowd, and others—the most important of all—became my closest friends.

When I moved from home to a college that was almost 100 miles away from my family, I never knew how lonely it could be. I lost all ounces of self-confidence as soon as I set foot on campus. I didn't know what to do. I was an awkward person who needed people as awkward as me to function. All of my friends who were used to said awkwardness were all dispersed across the state. I hadn't had to make friends with anyone since my first day of pre-k when I was four years old and just starting out. To say I was nervous about making friends would be an understatement. The thought of talking to new people made me so nervous I didn't even want to leave the familiarity of my own bubble.

The vast majority of the people were so overwhelming to my shy persona. How was I going to pick friends? How was I going to establish relationships with people I never met? How was I ever going to not be alone?

Luckily for me, things were easy. My freshman roommate was amazing, and we became friends instantly, then I joined my sorority and made even more friends, and recently I have made some of my very best friends from having countless classes with them and suffering through it together. I have met some of the greatest people in my life, and these people keep me from falling off the edge of a cliff. And I do the same for them.

They say sometimes that water runs thicker than blood, and while my family is still so important, being far away from my family has made me a see what that saying is all about. These people became my family away from my family, and for that, I am forever grateful.

So friends, if you're reading this, know that I love you. And I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world. Well, almost anything.