As I am writing this, I am sitting in an oversized chair pretending to read my textbook for the fifth time. I keep staring at my phone, waiting for it to light up with a text message.

I used to do this a lot in high school. I had the same circle of friends forever and our conversations were never-ending via text message. We probably had the same ongoing text chain for four years. It’s strange how after you graduate it automatically changes. We swear we’re all going to keep touch and be in each other's weddings but honestly, we grew apart in ways we never thought we would. My friends from high school don’t know what I am doing every day anymore. They don’t know that I just had lunch with girls from my class earlier and we talked about a guy they'll never meet and a test they'll never take. As our world keeps spinning, sometimes it can be a little uneasy to think about the people who aren’t leading characters in your life anymore.

Social media has a unique way of keeping us connected. I can see what they want the world to see because now I’m one of three hundred friends on their Facebook. The people who you swear you’ll watch grow up and take over the world will suddenly be just another favorite on an Instagram post. There’s no bad blood and there probably never will be, life just has a way of moving so fast sometimes you leave people behind.

I can get emotional thinking about the friends from the past who will get married, have kids, and get their dream jobs without me knowing. Who else is supposed to show their husband or wife embarrassing pictures from high school when we thought our hair was cool and makeup was “on fleek”? (Trust me, I have enough people who could blackmail me with pictures from the days of uneven bangs and weird half blonde hair) I also know that they brought so much joy into my life and they are currently bringing that same happiness to others. It's sad to think about the people we no longer see, but it's endearing to know that they are the people we will never forget.

The world moves on whether we like it to or not. In about twenty minutes, I’ll be going to another class, sitting next to people who my old friends will never meet. Next semester, I probably won’t see those people ever again besides an occasional passing in the hallway. Our lives move on and not everyone can keep up with it. There are a few exceptional relationships that stick with you no matter how fast you can feel like you’re running. They always seem to be in your most texted on your phone or across from you at the lunch table every once in awhile.

So, the fault of growing up? You lose some of the most important people in your life. The best part about growing up? Being able to meet more people who may make a bigger impact than you could ever imagine.