By the time you get into college you have acquired an assortment of different friends. Each friend and each relationship has their own conditions and emotions that are correlated to them. Each type of friend changes and affects your life in a different way, and they are all necessary to your development as a person.

I want to give a special thanks to all my friends out there; past, present and future. Thank you for making me who I am and creating additional meaning in my life.

Thanks to my acquaintances, past and present for helping me get through the day.

My most collective group of friends are my acquaintances. They are the people in my classes that I don’t talk to outside of class, the people on my club sport teams that I only socialize with during team functions, the people I see at my Zumba class or when I’m at the gym and we have a causal conversation, and the friends of friends who I see on a regular basis and know but we don’t connect on personal level. These are the friends I say hello to when we pass each other in the halls and possibly have a brief conversations with, but the relationship stays at the surface level. I need these people; they help me get through my everyday life!

Thanks to the friends I have because of proximity.

My proximity friends; people who I am friends with because we were both there. We became friends because we went to the same school, or that we lived in the same neighborhood, or that our families hung out together and we created great memories. We started this type of friendship because we were thrown together, our relationship was deep and meaningful and the reason was because of proximity in hindsight. We’ve spent years seeing each other everyday for one reason or another, and we know personal information about each other. But within time our proximity changed or something happened to make me look at the relationship and realize were only friends because it was easy. My proximity friends haven’t stayed with me because they were just put in my life for a period of time. When we were no longer close or it was easy to stay in contact, we lost intimacy. If I run into you, we catch up and maybe hang out but only when it's convenient for both of us. There is no bad blood, and the memories we’ve created together remain strong and untainted! We may not have the same closeness as before, and I just wanted to say thanks for being my friend during that point in my life.

Thanks to my longtime friends.

The friends I’ve had for years and years. The ones who know me and I know you due to the fact that we have known each other for so long, and have seen each other grow. I don’t have to worry about losing you because we have so much history and a special connection with each other. I see some of you every day or every week and some even less. But even when I don’t see you for a while I know you are always there and that I can reach out whenever I want too. You’re the ones I consult when I need advice because you’ve known me for so long, and the ones I call when I want to reminisce over the past. You all give me the best advice because you know my tendencies of how I act and what I’ve been through. My longtime friends, thank you for remaining close whether I see you everyday or every month!

Thanks to my emotional friend.

I have a friend who I call my emotional friend. She is the one who has a huge heart but a lot of baggage. She drains me, but I love her. We have been friends because of proximity and the amount of time and memories we have with each other. She gives the most thoughtful gifts and maintains the effort to continue the relationship, but carries a lot of emotional baggage. She utilizes me for my great listening skills and for the advice I give. Through all the drama and the energy it takes me to be friends with her, she has taught me to appreciate what I have, taught me patience and she influenced how I react to my own problems. When she is not being emotional, we have great times and create great memories together! Emotional friend, thank you for helping me grow and creating memories with me!

Thank you good friends.

My good friends are ones I hang out with regularly and share lots with but not everything. I value them and spend lots of time with them. I chose these friends and decided to keep them because of the way I feel when we are together. Everyone has different qualities they want in a good friend. But whatever they are, they relate to some form of trust and loyalty between both of them. Knowing they will be there for me and keep private information to themselves and accept the information I give them. They are the ones I spend my weekends with and I tell about my day. The ones I call up when I need to go out or decide to stay in. They accept me for who I am and we appreciate each other’s company. Good Friends, thank you for hanging out with me and helping me grow as a person!

Thank you best friend.

The difference between a good friend and your best friend is that your best friend is the most intimate friendship. You may have one or two or even multiple for different areas of your life but you tell them more information than your good friends. You are the most open and yourself with them and you feel a higher bond and loyalty to them because they are a constant in your life. They are the ones I tell my unrealistic worries to, the one I brag about how great I am, the one I tell my insecurities to, the one who will tell me what I don't want to hear, and the one who brings me up when I am down. Best friend, you are hard to describe in words but I don’t know where I would be without you!

You may have friends that fit multiple groups of what you’ve just read or even friends that are their own version. Just remember to value all your friends; the ones you had and the ones you have. For whatever type of friend they are in your life, they are important in shaping you and helping you create amazing memories and experiences!