A true friend never gets in your way unless you're going down...

----To the girls who let me basically live in their dorm rooms...----

True friends are hard to find. (It's even harder when you're an introvert.) My first night at Truett-McConnell University consisted of a lot of tears and "I just want to go home". I had no idea why I chose to move away from my friends and family and come to a place where I knew nobody except the guy I was dating at the time. I knew that the Lord wanted me here, I just didn't understand why I had to be so alone while I carried out His plan.

Time went on and things got easier. I actually made a friend and she introduced me to more people that she knew. Things were finally looking up. (or so I thought)... Two weeks in and I had become single (after a two-year long relationship with a guy I thought I would spend forever with) and completely questioning my major and if I actually wanted to be a nurse for the rest of my life. Not to mention my roommate and I never bonded or became close like I had wanted so badly. School work started piling up and stress consumed me. I felt completely alone and completely worthless. Then my gal pals saved the day.

They were literally the type of friends a girl could only dream of. Although they had only known me a couple weeks they were completely uplifting and comforting when I needed them most. I basically lived in their dorm rooms. I guess there is something about going to someone's room in the middle of the night in complete meltdown mode that brings you that much closer. After many prayer circles and group hugs (and tissue boxes), I found myself again. I was finally happy.

I guess God knew exactly what He was doing when he placed me where I am now. Whenever I have a problem, I know I can just walk in room 209, 213, or 110 and they will be there to help and pray me through whatever it is that is upsetting me. They also don't mind telling me what I actually need to hear instead of just what I want to hear. They hold me accountable and genuinely care about things I am going through and about me in general. They helped me go through a very difficult time and I am a better person because of them.

Thank you, girls. A million times, thank you. For all the coffee, venting, holding me while I cried, letting me lay on your floor while you did homework so I wouldn't be alone, Chick-Fil-A runs, Dunkin' trips, jam sessions, and every other thing you guys have done for me. I will never be able to tell y'all how much each one of you mean to me. You have taught me to love the life I am living and to love everyone around me. You guys radiate happiness and you girls have such beautiful souls.

Stay beautiful. Stay Kind. Stay you.

xoxo,

Olive, Pumpkin, Lumpkin, Olivia, and Liv