Having a best friend is one of the biggest blessings in life. They are your confidante, shoulder to cry on, cheerleader and sister or brother. I was lucky to meet my best friend Alessa, when I was 13. This year, we turn 22 and start our senior year of college together at OU. It’s fun to look back at life with your best friend and see how far you both have come. There isn’t a time limit for someone to be your best friend, but here’s what it’s like when you’ve known them for over five years.

You remember how you became friends

At least, I hope you do. Hopefully, there is also some really cool, unique story behind your meeting. Those are how some of the best friendships are formed. I met Alessa in sixth grade, but I thought she was too cool for me (which she is), and we didn’t talk much. But the next year, we were paired up as lab partners in science class. We had to dissect frogs, and I was completely disgusted by it. Luckily, she was a champ and did most of the work. Bless her heart.

You have differences and know how to embrace them

The beauty of human beings is that we are so unique, but can enjoy similarities, too. You and your best friend might come from different backgrounds or cultures. But you get to mix those together. You both probably like different things or do stuff differently, yet you are presented with so many opportunities to try something new constantly and learn from them. Alessa’s a vegan, and I’m not, but through her I’ve gotten to try a lot of yummy food I probably would never try on my own.

You can work through distance and separation anxiety

Sure, distance on any relationship can have a strain on any relationship, but you and your BFF can get past it. Even if it has been a while since you’ve seen each other, you can pick up right where you left off like nothing has changed. Alessa and I went to different high schools, and then on back-to-back study abroad trips last year, and didn’t see each other for about five months. Good thing we have FaceTime and social media.

You’ve lived a lot of life together

If you’ve known your best friend for five years or more, chances are you’ve lived through several stages of growing up together. Together, you made it past the awkward middle school years, braces, bad hairstyles, and all. You adjusted to high school together and tried (and are still trying) to figure out how this whole college thing works. You’ve battled through the bad times together, and rejoiced in the good. She’s been there when you were upset about a boy who was stupid, and you’ve gotten to watch her become the badass that she is. Over the past few years, I’ve watched my best friend fall in love. What a beautiful thing. She was my rock when we lost one of our good friends in a car accident. Without your best friend, you’d have a giant gaping hole in your life.

They are your best teacher

I’ve learned a lot from Alessa. She’s had a lot of different experiences than I have, and has gone through things at different times than I have, but I’ve always gotten a lesson out of her experiences. She’s my go-to source when I have questions, or need help with anything. She teaches me workouts, introduces me to new recipes, and we’ve gotten to take some classes together. Essentially, she's my life coach.

You very rarely fight, if at all

Because you’ve known each other for so long, you both know where each other’s buttons are, and know not to push them. Sure, it’s probably not all sunshine and rainbows. No relationship is like that. You might get angry because they occasionally cancel plans or forget something, but major issues very rarely arise. If there is any kind of problem, you know how to work it out and move on. Sometimes, you have to call each other out.

There isn’t really a topic that is off limits

You and your BFF talk about anything and everything. You feel free to discuss all of the gritty details of life and things you might be embarrassed to bring up with anyone else. Since you’ve known each other so long, they’ve definitely seen and heard some weird things from you. You guys aren’t afraid to go there with your conversation. You might also make strange requests for one another. I wish I could give an example, but that’s confidential. I’d do anything for her.

You just get each other

There isn’t anyone that knows me like Alessa does. Sometimes I think she knows me better than I know myself. If I’m being irrational she knows what to say to get me to chill and think logically. Sometimes, we don’t have to say anything at all. Comfortable silence can be hard to come by, and luckily it’s something that happens with a longtime best friend. You know each other well enough to not have to make conversation and can just relax. You know what each other likes and doesn’t like. You know what to say when they’re feeling down and she/he knows what your family’s like. They just get you. They’re you person (you know I had to throw this in here).

They're just the best

Your best friend will always be a part of your life. Eventually you might move away from each other and get busy with life. But they'll always be your person. They'll always be a call, text or email away. You'd hop on a plane for that person. They're that person you'd put above anything else. You always have each other's backs.

Alessa's already called dibs on being my maid of honor when I get married some day. And I couldn't think of a better person to be by my side.