High school can definitely have it's upsides and downsides. Not everyone can say they had the greatest high school experience, but generally, people can reflect fondly on at least a few memories from that time in their life, For me, all these memories were shared with my best friends and they are definitely the hardest part of being away.
1. They know you better than anyone else
Knowing someone for years on end provides many upsides, but for me, this one is the greatest. When you go to college, having to explain the last 18 years of your life can be challenging. It is hard to explain just how significant someone is, the weird kid in your math class, or your strained relationship with this far off distant relative. Luckily for you, your friends from high school probably already know all this information, because they experienced it with you. Your friends from high school know you well, and even if you friends from college do too, it still is not quite the same. These people have helped you through problems for years and there's no doubt they know just what to say to ensure they help you with the next 50.
2. Those "remember when" moments
Nothing quite makes you sound like an 80-year-old teenager than those beloved "remember when" moments. Remember when you almost peed yourself on a field trip? Remember when you tripped in a whole and almost broke your ankle? Remember when we all failed that chem test? Ah, nothing better.
3. They were there with you through the awkward phases and bad times, and still love you.
Your college friends get the grown, adjusted version of you. (Aside from the finals week meltdowns.) Your high school pals get your ugly black eyeliner, your zebra-patterned tank tops, your overly straightened hair, and saw you through your 900 pre-college meltdowns. Very few people should've loved me after I had my 75th meltdown over the same thing before college, but you guys still do, begrudgingly.
4. They're basically your new long-distance boyfriend/girlfriend.
The traveling to see each other, the FaceTime sessions full of longing, the I miss you texts day in and day out. You've basically accumulated several long distance relationships with your best friends and there is absolutely no complaint. How many more days till I see you? Am I even functioning? How long till my soul is complete again? Are we actually counting down the seconds at this point?
5. You get to experience college life at different schools.
It's almost like you're attending several different colleges or universities. You get to hear about their classes, their party life, and their friends. I've personally moved one of my best friends in and out of college, became friends with their college best friend, and stayed with my other best friend on many instances. It's really the best of both worlds.
6.The reunions are the best..hands down.
Leaving college can be sad, because the people you grew used to seeing everyday are being scattered across the country as opposed to your small town. But one thing that makes the homecoming worthwhile is the fact that you'll get to see your best friends and revert back to old times like nothing has ever changed.
