This past week I met up with my friends from high school and it really got me thinking -- so much has changed.

This is semi-based off of my recent article about not graduating in four years, but I have a few more thoughts that I want to share with you guys about the people in our lives who helped us to get to where we are now.

One of the biggest things I was thinking about while talking with my high school friends was not only how different we are now and how we've grown, but also how different the people I spend most of my time with in college with are.

I go to school in Grand Canyon University which, if you did not know, is located in Phoenix, Arizona -- a good chunk of time away from my home in Whittier, California. It is about 6 hours away and that may not seem crazy far, but it feels pretty far for a girl who has never really left the state before.

Honestly, I hardly talk to them anymore, and it is not because they are awful people but we all have gone our separate ways. We have grown into our own persons, and that is a good thing! I am extremely happy that we have all grown, and I can see what God has been doing in each of their lives. However, it is interesting to me to see how different they are from the friends that I now have in college.

Again, this is not a bad thing! I love my friends in college like crazy; we have gone on road trips together, grown as individuals together, experienced the struggles of adult life together, and really pushed each other to be the best person we can be. I know that my college friends and I are going to “forever” friends.

Now, with my high school friends, there are definitely some who I do not really talk to anymore. I still follow them on social media and like their statuses or pictures from time to time, but we are definitely not actively involved in each other’s lives anymore. This is simply because we have grown a part. We are in different parts of our lives, and that’s completely okay. Regardless, they played an integral part into why I am the way that I am today.

In high school life was so different.

Our priorities, short term goals, thoughts, emotions, and perspective of life seemed to be much simpler in high school. Things like dances, sports, and getting to class on time seemed like our entire world. We knew our friends were always going to have our backs in all of those situations, and although those things are not important to me now, I am so thankful I had my high school friends with me to experiences the chaos that is the teenage years.

My high school friends pushed me to come to Grand Canyon University and to work hard at my job. They reminded me that it was important to listen to what the Lord was telling me when choosing a direction. They reminded me that, no matter what, God would always be with me in this new adventure. Although I do not really talk to everyone in high school anymore, this is a thank you, to all of you.

Thank you for pushing me to make it to zero period on time.

Thank you for not letting what other people thought of me cloud what I thought about myself.

Thank you for helping me pick our prom dresses and never letting me come to class looking gross.

Thank you for reminding me that I was not alone.

Thank you for dealing with me when the boy I liked was crushing on someone else.

Thank you for reminding me that family is so important.

Thank you for loving me for the crazy teen that I was.

Thank you for being there.

And for those who I still talk to from high school, God knows I see you as a gift and treasure that I never intend to let go. We have been through a crazy amount together already and we can definitely take on these next challenges together.

As for my college friends, I am so thankful for the times we are sharing together and the crazy moments we have shared. Our next chapter together is terrifying and exciting all at the same time, but if there is one thing that I know for sure: it is that I am so thankful that we are all in this together!

*que the High School Musical Soundtrack*