I’ve never been the type of girl who enjoyed hanging out with half a dozen or so girls all at once. I never really had that “crew” of friends as some do. Mostly because I found that, in middle school and into high school, I was unable to find that many girls I actually got along with or even liked. I was always content with my one or two close girlfriends.

Honestly, I didn’t have much trust in large groups of girls.

That is, until last semester.

The little sister of one of my guy friends had quickly become one of my close friends when she began her freshman year at school with us. However, we didn’t spend all that much time together. Instead, I spent my time with my friends and she spent time with hers, a group of girls her year who were incredibly close, practically inseparable.

Soon, I did begin to spend time with their “squad,” as they refer to themselves and as others have begun to refer to them, and I was honestly a little intimidated and definitely closed off. Due to past experiences, I wasn’t about to become close to this big group of girls. Or so I thought.

It turned out, the more I spent time with them, the more time I wanted to spend time with them. I came to trust them as if they were my blood. They are some of the funniest, most genuine and most beautiful souls I have ever come across.

I knew coming into this year that it would be a period of transition for me. Some of my closest friends had graduated; my very best friend had transferred to another university. I was prepared to come back to school with my head in the sand, keeping a low profile as I threw myself into my school, work and extracurriculars.

While I came back and did immediately begin to work hard, I just as quickly realized that this year would not be as somber, lonely and unpleasant as I had feared. In fact, I felt more joy in the first week of classes alone than I had felt in months. I was surprised to find that that same squad I’d admired had suddenly adopted me as one of their own, as if it were the most natural move to make.

I had been so used to “girl squads” putting down others and taking on the typical “Mean Girl” persona. Never had I expected a group of girls to compliment me multiple times every single day; to tell me I don’t need to keep worrying about that stupid boy because he doesn’t even deserve me; to truly listen to me when I need to vent; to cuddle with me and play with my hair without me even asking; to share food and drinks together with without blinking an eye; to actually want my advice and my opinion; to believe in me.

Amy Poehler, one of my favorite actresses and comediennes, said in her 2011 commencement address at Harvard University, “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”

Babes, thanks for changing my life…for the better.

All the love.