I was lucky. I came into my freshman year later than everyone. I missed orientation, I missed move in day, I missed the first day bonding. Heck, I missed a whole semester of bonding. When I finally arrived at my school, I found my own way to my dorm, unpacked myself, and called home. I was lost. I didn’t think I’d ever make friends and I knew there was no way I would find my way around campus. But like I said, I was lucky.

The next morning, I headed down to the gym and met the people who would become as close to me as family, my lacrosse team. So walking into freshman year a bit behind everyone else, I found myself also walking into 23 friends. It was perfect. Without my team, there's no way I would have the friends and stories I have now. But, a group of girls inside the team stepped up and took me in.

These girls immediately accepted me and took me under their wing. They told me where my next classes were, how to get an I.D. card, where we ate, and everything else I possibly needed to know. I would have been lost without them. Over the next few months, I grew closer to these girls. They put me in their group chat, they took me out, and we created our own memories.

We all moved in together this last year, picking up an 8th member to our group, and things have gotten even better. Yes, we have our ups and downs but our friendships are stronger than ever because of it. With another summer coming up, I'm excited for the school year to end, but I’m sad I won't see these girls every day. Living away from home, dining with them, traveling with them, and talking to them every single day has brought us all together, we’ve become a family.

Looking back through my camera roll at all the funny pictures and memories we have created over the last year and a half makes me feel pretty sentimental. There are absolutely no other people I would want to spend my Friday nights, crying over Nicholas Sparks with. The long hours at the library, spent drinking smoothies and playing hide-and-go-seek mean more to me than any grade ever could. I’m so thankful to have a close-knit group of such strong role models who I can turn to about anything. I don’t feel like I have to hide anything from them and I wouldn’t want to. I really lucked out with these ladies; through our ups and downs, all the highs and lows, there's always a good time and a smile not too far away.

So thank you ladies, you saved me. Without you, I honestly wouldn't have made it this far or be doing as well as I am. Whether its advice about classes, professors, boys, lacrosse, my future, clothes, or my hair and makeup (because God knows, I need all the help I can in that department), I can always count on your honest opinion and advice. We laugh, we cry, we fight, and then repeat it all the next day. And I wouldn’t have it another way.