"Friends from home:" a universal term coined by college students to describe their non-school pals. As soon as I came to college, I found everyone constantly talking about their "friends from home." At first, I thought it was the strangest phrase; i've never had to use anything like it before. But, quickly, I found myself using it, too.
"OMG, my best friend from home is visiting this weekend!" "That brown haired girl who just followed you on instagram? That's my friend from home."
By subconsciously using this phrase all the time, I began to realize just how much I talk about them on an almost daily basis, telling my college friends stories of our high school shenanigans, and even what the topic is in the group chat today. As the typical cliche goes, they're my "people." College friends are fantastic, don't get me wrong. But your friends from home are just a little different.
They've been there through it all. And they still like you.
Cliche again, but seriously, how true is it? Through every awkward stage, every breakup, every first date, every prom meltdown, they were there with you by your side. And now, they're here to laugh about all of them with you, and remind you how much of an idiot you were at age 15.
"Remember when..." always results in either laughter that turns to tears, tears that turn to laughter, or a combination of both.
Somehow, every inside joke with your friends from home will still make you laugh until you're on the floor and can't breathe. To trigger this, there's nothing better than looking through hysterical old pictures and immediately sending them to the group chat.
The group chat, texting, FaceTime, and Skype are the most important things. Ever.
Friends from home have to be updated on everything that's going on. We all need to know who finally talked to that cute boy on their floor, who got that internship they applied for, and everything in between. It's necessary to constantly keep tabs on one another, since we aren't there to see it for ourselves.
They taught you what it means to be a friend.
Everything you've learned in the friendship department, you've learned from your friends from home. They grew up with you; they taught you the good and bad ways of comforting one another, when to intervene or when to just nod and listen, and when the biggest hug in the world is more than necessary.
They know you better than anyone.
Your friends from home know every dumb mistake you ever made--and why you made them. They know why high school was the best and the worst, every boy you've ever liked, and every single detail of every single embarrassing moment.
They make coming home more than worth it.
When November strikes, the countdown to the Thanksgiving break reunion begins. You get giddy thinking about going to your favorite restaurants with your home friends, giving them a huge hug, and hearing all about what you've missed for the past couple months. And for every break, the same thing occurs. There's absolutely nothing better to come home to than hours of endless laughs with your best friends in the world.
I'm so lucky to have such amazing people in my life to not just come home to, but to tell anyone who will listen about.
