When returning home for spring break I was elated to be greeted by familiar faces. I quickly realized that two years of college only strengthened my relationships with my closest friends. No matter the changes that we face in our lives, we always will have a support system to return home to. I am forever grateful that my high school experience led me to my forever friends, and the people who I look forward to being by my side as we take on the rest of our lives. We may be dysfunctional, but we're family. Here are 10 reasons why staying close with your high school friends is the greatest.

1. When you return home on breaks it seems as if you never left.

Despite leading different lives, when you all return home to your childhood town, you realize that not that much has changed. Your friends are still the same goofy people you grew up and spent every day with for a significant portion of your life.

2. You have so many different schools to visit throughout the year.

Even though it is common to wish you had the opportunity to experience college with all of your closest high school friends, it is so much fun traveling to each other's schools on weekends throughout the year. Despite not spending every day together, you make the most of the weekends that you are reunited for.

3. You get enjoyment out of talking about all of the fun (sometimes dumb) things that you did while growing up.

You reflect on all of the instances when you thought your life was ending, or when you couldn't have pictured a better night. You quickly realize that you were not only being overly dramatic, but also were in for a rude awakening when beginning college.

4. Sometimes you even relive those memories for the fun of it.

In addition to reflecting on all of the fun that you had, you make every effort to take visits to your favorite “high school hangouts,” including the local Friendly’s, and even your old high school. You enjoy going to a Friday night football game at your old school, and watching as you remember how you thought that losing a high school football game was the end of the world. (Glad to see that we all survived)

5. It is so convenient having so many friends down the street.

When you're home, there is always someone looking to do something. The beauty of returning home for breaks is that it is generally a time for fun and relaxation. In addition to working a few hours for some extra cash, the majority of your time is spent with friends, opposed to slaving over hours of homework.

6. You get to spend the summer taking trips and creating everlasting memories together.

Road trips and trips to the shore remind you of the summer after senior year, and the infamous senior week. Every summer you strive to relive those memories, and with each passing year you realize your high school self was so much cooler than you.

7. You get to be childish.

These are your childhood friends after all. No matter how much fun it is going out together, you also enjoy the nights spent playing board games and going on scavenger hunts throughout the neighborhood.

8. You get to hear about all of their crazy weekends and the new friends that they have made since the last time you saw them.

You force them to bring their new friends home for you to meet, so you can adopt them as your best friends too.

9. When you are finally together, you have so much to catch up on.

A lot of things can change over a few months. Telling stories over text messages just doesn't do it, therefore, hours will be spent catching up on the latest gossip. Although your friends may have no idea the people from school that you are referencing in a story, you can be certain that they'll have your back and solidify the fact that you're right. (That's what friends are for, right?)

10. You are reminded that no matter the distance, friendships can grow stronger through distance and time apart.

Despite not talking every day, and maybe not seeing each other for months at a time, you know that they are the people who will always have your back. Returning home to your high school friends is returning to wonderful memories, and a support system that is like a family.