My communication skills have widened and I am more of a risk-taker than ever before, this allowed me to meet my two soon-to-be best friends. I had always claimed to have best friends, but I now have proof that I'm barely realizing what true friends are. It took me time to actually open up and trust my two dear friends, Jacy and Victoria.

Within seven months I have already grown to love love and truly comprehend what best friends are supposed to be. I had never met my past "best friends" parents ever and believe that this is a huge step in friendships.Thank you for allowing me to meet y'all's family. I have had the best moments around them all, although they might not know it. I have gained loneliness in being five hours apart from my family and they aid the transition.

Out of all the years that I spent with the same people throughout middle school to senior year I never had friends that showed me how it feels to genuinely be cared and loved. I never had friends who wanted to celebrate me, on my birthday or just fill me with surprises for the absolute reason that we are friends. I celebrated my nineteenth birthday with both, along with Victoria's family. I always dragged my friends to spend time with me, but I have now found the best of friends who'll text me asking if they can see me, and even take me to dinner with their parents.

I believe that college friends are the real deal. It's nothing like high school where you can spend as much time with them because you're forced to go to school and see them. In college, you go to class and are done, so you find time to make for friends if you really want to. There is a much closer bond due to all of us being away from home. You appreciate each other more because y'all are all homesick and stressed. You find a sense of peace in hanging out with friends.

I always found amusement in my previous teachers' words when they said: "you'll find your true identity in college and the friends that you are yet to meet will play a role". I did not believe this statement, but it is true. I have two friends who seek the Lord's love with me and pray for me. They truly want me to prosper and better myself, and that is what friendship is all about. Thank you to both of these wonderful ladies for allowing me to see what a true friendship is and allowing me to experience things that I had never done before. Thanks for constantly reminding me that I am loved.