One of the hardest truths to accept when it comes to friendships is that sometimes things don't last. Change is inevitable, and from the time you start college and the years following it, some of the connections and relationships that you have built in high school will no longer be. Don't get me wrong; some friendships created in the years prior to college can be sustained and maintained for an entire lifetime, but the unfortunate truth is that generally, this is not the case. No matter how much you'd like to promise yourself and your high school friends that you'll hang out as much as possible and keep in touch, the reality is that everyone has gone his or her own way. Sure, you might see each other on occasion, but things are not the same once graduating high school.

Making that transition from being with your friends every day to now separating and progressing on your own academic and career paths will alter your friendships. Stemming from a few of my own experiences, I can affirm that you learn a lot more about a person when you're no longer in each other's company than you do when you're with them. When you're no longer forced to see each other every day, you come to realize who actually makes an effort to hang out with you. In other words, it's easy to make plans after school or for the weekend when you're with a certain group of people on a daily basis. These are the individuals whom you associate with and see for most of the time. On the other hand, when the time comes to separate, go off to college, and pursue individual goals, it obviously becomes different. You no longer get to see your group of friends as often as you'd like, and making plans can be a bit challenging since everyone operates on a different schedule.

In my opinion, it is during these times—times of distance and challenge—that one's friendship and loyalty are tested. Unfortunately, you may come to find that the person you thought was your friend isn't making the effort to see you or you found her to be an entirely different person than how you knew her to be. The fact of the matter is that this is a part of life, and I haven't had this experience until very recently. From this, I learned that people do come and go into your life, and the people you thought you were close with can drift away. This change can seem disheartening, but know that it is for the better. Yes, you should cherish the memories that you have shared with those you no longer see or speak to, but understand that at every moment, albeit at different speeds and points, we all grow and mature in some way, and the people that have accompanied you in the past may no longer be suitable for you in the present. You will find new friends that will help you mature at every stage in your life and expand your outlook, making you a better person.

To be quite honest, when you think about it, nothing in life is permanent, and that includes friendships. Even though friendships after high school are likely to change, this shouldn't be discouraging. Sometimes, things aren't meant to work, and, more often than not, it's for the best.