As spring break rapidly approaches, many college students eagerly wait to return home. You get to come home and see your family, your pets and sleep in your own bed. Coming home also means hanging out and catching up with all your high school besties.

A unanimous fear that freshman seem to have coming into college is how they are going to make friends. Within a couple weeks though, you make a few connections and start to form amazing friendships with those around you. By the second semester, you have made friends for life.

The wonderful most unique thing about meeting people in college is observing how different is. People come from different backgrounds and places from all over the world; they all have a story. You find yourself becoming friends with people you never thought you would and eventually find some comfort in the bond.

Not to mention, these are people you hang out with every day. They're with you through all the mental breakdowns, breakups, blackout nights, and junk-food cravings. Just like you, they're trying to figure out their lives and they're just as stressed about it too. But, at the end of the day, they're something to come home to - even if that means cramming the futon on a Wednesday night and watching youtube videos.

The friends you meet in college are rare considering the idea that you essentially live together, and consequently spend all of your time with together too. You're forced to adjust to each other's habits and personalities, whether you want to or not. But it's all a part of the growing process.

I know in my life particularly, I am beyond thankful for meeting all the people I have met during my first year. The fact that there are 3 more years and so much more people to meet gives me sort of hope too. There is still so much to see.

And then you come home.

Whether it be Thanksgiving, winter or spring break, coming home and seeing your friends is almost like lifting the weight of the world off your shoulders. You can finally come home and be your weird self around them without fear of judgment. And they reciprocate that back.

Being away from your friends for so long makes you appreciate them that much more when you do finally see them again. They come from the same place as you, so they know how you think. A lot of them you grew up with you, and they have watched your transition from youthful middle schooler to rebellious high schooler, too (hopefully) prosperous college student.

Your friends from home have really seen it all. They know absolutely everything there is to know about you, your house, and your family; and vice versa. And your friendship is something of a gift because of it. Just like fine wine, it only gets better with time too.

Coming home also means being able to re-live old memories. Nothing is more nostalgic than quite literally driving down memory lane and pointing out all the tattoos you guys left on the town together. You can listen to all the same music together and feel at home again moved by the vibrations of past euphoria.

Your friends from home are a rare kind. You have some that you enjoy talking to every week simply to catch up, and on the other end of the spectrum, you have those friends that can go months without talking to and nothing changes as a result.

Yet, there's comfort in all of that. As we all grow up so quickly, it becomes almost impossible to keep up with everyone so hastily. Thankfully for things like social media, that can be done a lot easier now. You can watch your friends prosper from afar while you grind hard on yourself.

At the end of the day, they are incomparable. Your friends from home helped shape the person you became when you entered college. The friends you meet in college are helping to build the person you are going to be.

Sometimes though, people are only in your life for seasons. But those who stick with you through the good, the bad, and the ugly are worth keeping around. Nevertheless, everyone who comes into your life is a blessing, either that or a lesson.

When life moves fast, it's imperative to remember where you came from so you don't lose sight of yourself. Invite new ideas, experiences and people in your life - just don't forget how you got there. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other is gold.