After just one year of college, I've learned a few things. One of these things is that you'll make all kinds of friends. Some of them will be there for reasons that are different than others. Some of them you'll only see in class or at the dinner table...and that's OK. I thought I'd share my view on a few different kinds of friends that you'll have in college.
The “I love to have fun” friend.
This friend will be there for you when you’re seeking adventure, or when you want to try something new. When you come across a weekend when you’re sick of the same old routine, this friend will be the first person you’ll hit up because you know that they’re always looking for an adventure to go on, one that’s out of the ordinary. They’ll be the one you go to parties and events with, and you’ll always have their backs at said parties. After all, what are friends for?
The “I need to get off campus, too” friend.
It’s inevitable; if you stay on campus 24/7, you will go nuts. Even if you didn’t think it was possible, you’re going to get sick of seeing the same faces, the same scenery…and you need to just get off campus, even if that just means going downtown and walking around at the mall or going to get frozen yogurt. That’s where this friend comes in. This friend will always be up to jumping in their car and driving around, if only to walk aimlessly around Burlington, looking at all the knick knacks lying around. Fro yo is something they’ll never say no to, and Walmart is suddenly the most interesting place in the world. They like adventures, too, like your “I love to have fun” friend, but they like small-scale adventures, like walking around a store or going out to eat.
The “mushy” friend.
This is the person you always go to whenever you need to vent, and let’s face it: we all have those days. You did poorly on an assignment after working so hard, a professor criticized your work in front of the whole class, the tater tots were gone when you went through the lunch line, someone let you down when you thought they were there for you, or a significant other needs “time.” It’s wonderful to have someone there during these times to let you get everything off of your chest and also to give you a reality check if you need one while always offering encouragement, and if you’re lucky, that person will trust you enough in return and will vent right back at you.
The “I want to relax” friend.
Relaxing is a must when you’re in college. Otherwise, your life would be wake up, go to class, do homework, maybe find time to eat, stay up until the early hours of the morning, get a few minutes of sleep, then do it all over again. And let me tell you, you will burn out very quickly that way. Your “I want to relax” friend will be the person you call up when you want to kick back and watch a movie, color, play some tunes, and keep it low-key. If you’re lucky, you’ll have many of these friends.
The “best” friend.
Your best friend will be the friend who will be there for you no matter what, and unlike other people that may only be there to study with or have fun with or party with, this friend will be there to do everything, right by your side. They’ll go over notes with you before a big test, Netflix binge beside you when you need some down time, and go have fun on the town. They’ll not only be the one you go to after a break up, but you’ll go to them after a Tinder conversation goes wrong and you need a witty way of revitalizing it. They’ll be there to help you pick out an outfit for a date or event, and they’ll be there at the event to have fun alongside you.
Moral of the story: you’re going to make so many friends in college, so get out there, make bunches of friends and enjoy your time in college because it's going to be over before you know it.
