Throughout the course of our lives, we will meet hundreds of new people. Many will pass through, leaving both small and large impacts, but then there are some that stick there forever. You know who I’m talking about. Hometown friends. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that my hometown holds an extremely special place in my heart and the friends I've made there are one huge reason why.

I’m a born and raised Kansas citizan and dang proud of it. I’m also proud to say that many of the friends I met when I was only between 5 and 7 years old are still some of my closest friends today. I was also blessed with friends later in my life that I have no doubt I will have forever. Let me tell you why.

The people we grow up with (fortunately and unfortunately) know everything about us. Our closest friends see what we go through first hand, be it good and bad. We get to know our friends’ parents as if they’re our own and our friends call our parents by their first names like they’ve known them forever.

Now this article isn’t just about best friends. A lot of people meet their very best friends later in life; in college or maybe even in the workplace. Having best friends from many different experiences is definitely possible and amazing. However, there really is something special about having a friend, or group of friends, that you can go months without seeing, yet when you're reunited it's as if nothing has changed.

We go off to college or move away knowing that our lives will change. It’s so exciting to meet new people and have new experiences, but it’s also nerve wracking not knowing how your past will fit in with your future. Your hometown friends will be going through that too and having each other to turn to is something special. Thank goodness for group chats and screenshots because once you and your people get going on a funny conversation, your day will be made right away. Wondering where John Smith from biology class is now? I bet one of your peeps has the answer. No matter what, your hometown friends have your back and love you unconditionally.

The best thing any of us can remember is that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Your hometown homies will miss you and you will miss them right back. Just remember that when you get home, nothing will have changed. You want to go to Taco Bell three days in a row? You got it. Maybe you’ve been watching Netflix for five days and want to get dressed up with your girls. They’ll be down because they've probably been watching Netflix for five days too. No matter the case, they’re always there.

Some day you’ll all go your separate ways and relying on those crazy summer reunions won’t be possible anymore, but hey, you made it through some pretty life changing times so you should know that anything is possible. Never forget to tell your hometown friends how much they mean to you because it’s really something special to have people that make saying goodbye so hard.