Over the years, I have made countless friends. Some of the relationships have faded, some were temporary, but few stuck by my side for years and gave me endless laughs and memories. So, to those friends, here is my thank you letter to you.
1. Thank you for the advice.
Whether it be which shade of lipstick looked best on me or relationship advice, thank you for listening and helping me out in every situation.
2. Thank you for staying up late to listen to me vent.
Sometimes my rants would last from two minutes to two hours. Thank you for staying up until 1 AM on the phone to hear me repeat the same old comments about the same old issue, just to get it off my chest.
3. Thank you for the laughs in the group chat.
Creating a group chat was probably one of the greatest things to ever happen to us. It provided an easy outlet if we wanted to complain about something as a group, form of communication for when we were trying to plan a get-together, and give us all something to laugh at.
4. Thank you for listening to me talk about my boy issues.
And for being someone I could share screenshots with, explain my heartache too, and start my sentence as, "Oh my gosh, you would not believe what he just did!"
5. Thank you for setting me straight.
A lot of the time, I just don't have my crap together or know what I'm doing. Everyone was always there to help guide me through life's tricky situations, call me out when needed, and get my act together. I couldn't be more grateful for the sometimes harsh but often needed constructive criticism.
6. Thank you for the homework help.
Along with the presentation and lab help. Sometimes what I was learning in high school was tough, but it always made it easier when I was partners with one of you or received a little bit of extra tutoring.
7. Thank you for the adventures.
I'm so glad I got to go on all of my school trips and personal road trips with you all --- from Chicago to a late-night run to McDonald's. Not only did it bring us closer, but it created dozens of lifelong memories (and gave me something to post on Instagram).
8. Thank you for the rides.
Before I could drive or had a car to use, I would always rely on you to take me places and bring me home. Even today that remains true when it would just be easier to carpool or take turns driving.
9. Thank you for having my back.
Especially when things didn't turn how I thought they would, or when I got caught up in pointless drama. You guys would always step up without question to defend me and offer your support; just know I would do the same for you all in a heartbeat.
10. Thank you for providing me with a second home.
Often times I would find myself at one of your houses more than my own. There would be times I would plan to spend one night at your house, but unexpectantly spent three. Basically, your house became my house, so thanks for providing a roof over my head when I just didn't feel like going home after a long day.
11. Thank you for the jam sessions in the car.
Let me tell you, there's nothing better than when a song comes on the radio or a throwback is played and everyone knows the words. Little things such as that helped me appreciate our friendship even more.
12. Thank you for encouraging me.
It's like having my own personal cheer team. Thank you for supporting me in all that I do and being my motivation when I need it. Many times, I just did not want to finish writing that paper or continue in the sport I was in, but you always reminded me why I needed to finish what I started and give me a confidence boost.
13. Thank you for attending events with me.
Such as homecoming, prom, football games, or any other event. I don't know about you, but I do not like appearing at social events by myself, so thank you for accepting my invitation when I didn't want to go somewhere on my own.
14. Thank you for helping me survive middle and high school.
Through the good, the bad, the and ugly (literally). We've gone through everything together having known each other since grade school. Graduating and heading off to the same college together is bittersweet, but comforting knowing I won't be completely alone.
15. Overall, thank you for being my friends.
I'm not sure what I did to deserve such great friends. On top of everything, you've all managed to stick by me through whatever through the years. Thank you for putting up with my weirdness and choosing to remain my friends.