Growing up, I never really had many friends, due to the fact that I could never open up to people unless I had the chance to get to know them first. As I became more mature, I realized that the reason for this was because whenever I make friends, I hope that those friends are here to stay. Transitioning from high school to college, I realized how although some friendships faded away, there were others that grew stronger, which is why now more than ever I have started to learn the true value of friendships, as well as how time makes those friendships stronger.

First off, what is friendship? It can be defined as many things, depending on a person's perspective. It can be two people who exchange conversation, or even just two people who share space but exchange silence. No matter how you look at friendship, we each have our own interpretations. In my opinion, friendship is something unique that happens amongst people who share common interests or personalities, while at the same time having varying perspectives. Not only that but within this friendship, there has to exist support for each other, as well as a general understanding between the people through communication in which plans are made. In continuation, I also feel that the best kinds of friendship are those in which you can stop talking for days, weeks, or even months, and just pick up the conversation as if no time has passed. Some of you may think, is that even a friendship? And in my opinion, yes, it is. It is a friendship because it requires the two friends to have a bond that is strong enough to withstand the time apart, and still be as strong as it was in the beginning. I know this for a fact because I myself have friendships like this, and the time apart just makes the reunion between friends all the better.

Friendship is something that should be valued, not only because they allow us to grow as people among society, but because true friends are the ones who will be there for us in the good times and in the bad, and who are there to support us in every decision we make. Yes, they will give us advice if whatever decision we make is unreasonable, but in the end, it is our decision, and our friends will be there to give us advice and encouragement. So to my friends out there who have been with me through thick and thin, thank you. I truly value your friendship and all that you all do for me.