Throughout our lifetime numerous people come and go but most if not all teach us, help us or change us. Within the last couple of years, I’ve taken a step back to realize how the friends I’ve made have helped change me for the better.

To the friend who makes me feel like a boss. This friend knows exactly what strings to pull to get me to be my most confident self. With any new opportunity, exams, or tackling anything challenging, this friend has helped me channel a different side to myself. With the go get em kind of attitude this friend is my go-to for when I need a little extra push to do what makes me nervous or tries to stop me in my tracks.

To the friend who gets me out of my comfort zone. This friend is the type to grab my hand and introduce me to an environment, people, or other things that I may usually say no to. Mostly from being the partial introvert I am and saying no to anything social. This friend has changed that about me. Thanks to this friendship I feel more comfortable saying yes to things that I would usually turn down. In terms of being a social butterfly.

To the friend who is okay with me being weird. This friend enjoys me as myself when I’m being silly, getting in tune with my weird quirks or laughing at goofy things. This friend encourages me to be in love with the qualities of myself that make me the person I am.

This goes to the friend that has been here for years. Time and distance hasn't been able to move our friendship apart and I don't think it ever will. This friendship is one where although were in two different locations our friendship is just as strong as if seeing each other on a regular basis. One reason for this being that neither of us will allow time nor distance to be a factor in our friendship.

Each of these friendships are special no one more so than the other. I’ve told each of these friends how greatly the friendships we’ve created have impacted me. We don't know how long they will last or if we will eventually grow apart but I hope to learn from each of them and grow as a person while it last. When thinking about the power of friendship I can say that I’m lucky enough to have a few in my life who exemplify it very well.