Someone once said, “Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they’re always there.”

Going away to college was one of the scariest things I’ve had to do. The last month home seemed like an eternity, I was anxious to get going but couldn’t bare the thought of leaving my best friends behind. I constantly pondered whether or not they’d forget about me. Would we drift apart? Would they even want to hear about my new life with new people? Would they be willing to drive to see me?

It’s scary, the uncertainty of friendship. Growing up I’ve made friends and lost friends, and you can never be quite certain about who is going to stick around because people are full of surprises. Luckily I was given some of the best friends anybody could ever ask for. Being away at college, it’s easy to feel forgotten about, and I have a few things I’d like to say to the girls who haven’t forgotten about me.

First, I want to thank them for the endless car rides. Whether we’re singing our lungs out to Amnesia, or venting about the stupid things boys do, my friends are more than willing to hop into a car and drive around with me for hours on end. If you ever want to get to know someone, sit in a car with them for a few hours. I can actually almost guarantee that’s how my friends and I became as close as we are.

I can’t believe I’m saying this but, thank you for always including me in group messages. You can never feel left out or alone when you leave your phone for 5 minutes and come back to 118 messages from your besties back home. Not only do we keep in touch with each other every single day, but my friends never fail to fill me in on all the 413 gossip. I never feel like I’m missing out and I don’t think they realize how much that means to me.

Thank you for always answering my FaceTimes. Whether it’s 4 p.m. or 4 a.m., one of my friends will always pick up their phone just to hear me ramble on about irrelevant things. Yes, they usually have no idea who I’m talking about, or what I’m talking about, but they never fail to give the best advice. Most of the time while we’re talking I’m going on and on about something or other and when I look at the screen, there they are patiently listening to me, and my millions of unnecessary details I add into stories. It’s comforting to know I always have someone who will listen.

Thank you for reminding me of what I deserve. Sometimes I sit back and justify behavior towards me, but my friends are quick to jump in and set me straight. Whether it’s a boy problem or a crappy friend, I’m always reminded of what I deserve. Friends are supposed to look out for you when you’re not seeing a situation for what it truly is, and mine do the most fantastic job.

Thank you for being my own personal FBI squad. I have always respected my friends creeping skills but going away to college they have impressed me beyond belief. I could tell them “hey I have a cute kid named Josh in my English class” and within 5 minutes have access to his Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Isn’t it a beautiful thing when your friends creep on people for you?

My list could go on and on about how amazing my best friends back home are, along with everything I’m thankful for. Being away from my friends has only made me love them that much more. I find myself wishing I could bring them all with me back to college. No matter if I’m at home, or at school, our friendship remains equivalent. It is truly beautiful to look at a bond you’ve created with others that is untouched and unbroken no matter what; through heartbreaks, fights, and a couple goodbyes — we’ve never left each other’s sides. A lot of people claim you have to wait until it gets dark to see who’s there for you. I say, bring on the deepest darkness, because when I look up my stars are shining, and I couldn’t love them more for it.