In school, you think you'll be close with your friends for the rest of your life. Your friend group is attached at the hip, always hanging out, spilling your hearts to each other, and maybe getting into a little trouble together. It doesn't matter if it's high school or college. You guys are closer than ever and you're sure that after graduation, you'll stay just as close. You'll either go to the same college or call each other every day or live in nearby towns.
Here's the harsh reality. You'll keep in touch with a few friends, but not all of them. Eventually, you'll realize you were friends with some people just because you saw them five days a week. Once you go your separate ways, you'll stop talking. Jobs opportunities and significant others will require much of your attention and you won't socialize quite as much. Yes, I'm sorry to say you probably won't do as much bar hopping as you used to every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.
Your real friends from school will still call you. They'll still come over to hang out. They'll make an effort in the relationship. My bestie from high school even moved out of state for a year and we still make a good effort to hang out. That's the true kind of friendship that never dies. Those are the friends you'll want to do anything for.
Then, in that first year after graduation, you'll probably meet up with friends who live nearby or haven't graduated yet. A couple of years later you'll start seeing pictures of friends moving away or getting engaged. Then you'll see pictures of the wedding and realize you never got an invitation. You weren't close enough to get an invite, despite how close you used to be. Sadly, you were friends because of proximity.
I've seen a number of friends from college get married via Facebook. A few years ago I would have guessed we were close enough that I'd see them get hitched one day. I was wrong… But it's not the end of the world. Not everyone wants a massive wedding with every friend they've ever had. I'll have to pick and choose my guest list, too.
The few close friends I had in high school are still active in my life. Two of them are in my bridal party and the other will (hopefully!) attend my wedding!
And you know what? Maybe one day you'll run into one of these long-lost friends and you'll still be on good terms. Just because life is busy and you can't call 30 people every day doesn't mean you're not nice to each other anymore.
Just remember that friends aren't as permanent as you think. But that doesn't mean you'll automatically become enemies once you toss that graduation cap. Cherish the friends who still call you up once in a while!
