Throughout my years on this earth, I have befriended so many faces. Whether it was through church, school, or work, I could always find a friend somewhere. Different backgrounds, names, ethnicities, and upbringings shape us all differently, making each friend unique from another.

It wasn't until I was older that I realized that it is completely normal for people to change and the friendship fades away. I was homeschooled until my 9th-grade year, so this was a new ballgame for me.

I was not used to dealing with this type of ordeal and I just summed up the end of our friendship to that person just being “mean." However, it wasn't until I was on the other end of the line that I realized that no one was in the wrong here. We just both went different ways and wanted different things, and in the process, we stopped talking and that is okay.

You see, outgrowing friends and friends outgrowing you is just another growing pain. Yes, it might hurt and even may cause some confusion, but in the end, it was all part of your story.

Outgrowing does not mean ignoring. I would never deliberately ignore someone who I have shared a significant friendship with. Not only is it not mature, but it doesn't allow either party to understand that it's okay to be okay without each other.

On the flip side, there are those friends that you meet along the way that may have a seat in your life forever. I can't tell you why some stay and some go, but what I can tell you is that these people are in your life for a reason. No two paths cross by mistake.

Personally, I believe that everything happens for a reason, so I try to soak up as much life as possible. I try to learn from my friendships and see how I can apply it to my life in the greater scheme of things.

With the seasons constantly changing in my life, at the moment, I try to shed a positive light around me no matter what. I'm in a stage of my life where all of the good friends that I have are no longer within an arms reach from me. Making the effort to see each other has become a two-way street, as we both coordinate a time where we can meet up.

In my first year of college, it was very hard for me to adjust to this transition, as I am a very friendly person who was always used to being around people. Making new friends is something that brings me joy and I am more than happy to meet new people that may be a breath of fresh air in my life.

Looking back on the friendships that I have made, shared, lost, and kept throughout the years, I have definitely learned that it is okay to outgrow people and it is more than okay for them to outgrow you.