Unlike many people I know, I was not someone that knew my best friend since we were weeks old or since pre-school. I met my best friend on my first day of middle school. I remember feeling shy and overwhelmed, so nervous for what was in store for me. In my very first class of the day, I was so annoyed about having assigned seats, but it became one of the best things that happened to me. I was placed right across from someone named Elizabeth Ohmer, and I thought she was the weirdest person ever. She had nails painted all different colors and she kept showing off her vibrating slippers – what the heck. But, ever since that class in sixth grade, Elizabeth has been my best friend.
We admitted to not liking each other at first because we were bratty pre-teens, but she has been my best friend since for the past eight years. For seven years before going off to college, we had triple sleepovers, spent hours walking around down town because there was nothing else to do, and I would spend summers living at her house, her family had become my second family. Once I decided to go to Virginia Tech and she decided to go to Appalachian State, I had no worry in my mind that our friendship would continue to thrive.
I feel like most people, even if they don’t admit it, are nervous about drifting from their best friend when they go their separate ways. Unfortunately, after grade school, this is just how things go – people go their separate ways. It was comforting that my best friend was never someone that made me doubt that we would continue to check up on each other, support each other, and fill each other in when we went to college.
Ups and downs are a natural part of any friendship, but when you have someone that has the same weird sense of humor as you, loves the same foods, listens to the same music, feels emotions on the same level, and watches the same Netflix shows, it is nothing but fun and happiness.
A true friend is someone that will build you up time after time, be genuine with you, and feel over protective over you when you experience the downs in life. I am so lucky to have had this in my life for eight years, and to know that this will only continue. I am beyond grateful to know someone who has been a constant light in my life, always remaining optimistic through anything that happens. I admire my best friend because she is kind to everyone, doesn’t judge others, is always smiling, remains hopeful, and has never made me feel any negative feeling. She is someone that wants to make a positive impact on the world, and has already started with me. It is so nice and refreshing to have that one person you can tell anything to, can always count on them to make you smile, and is always on your side no matter what. Some of my best pre-teen and teenage memories come from this great gift I have received, Elizabeth’s friendship.
I hope everyone someday meets their Elizabeth, and experiences the joy of true friendship.
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!
From,
Your Life Long Best Friend
