There was a time when I considered myself as someone who didn’t have many friends and was fine on her own. It genuinely feels like I’ve lived a hundred lifetimes since then. I read books, I was educated, I got decent grades. But I wasn’t fulfilled, not like I am now. Middle school was extremely tough for me until 8th grade, when I finally put down the books I engorged myself on to the point of isolation and reached out to the light. I was given the greatest gift life has to offer: friendship. My hard shell softened, and I learned that I am worthy of being chosen and loved and respected: I just had to open my heart a bit. Because of that, people who had nothing to owe me chose me. My friends became a part of my life just because they wanted to be, because they saw the glow in me I didn’t see yet and wanted to be around me. For that, I will always be thankful. Not just to my friends, but to myself too. I’m evolving. I’m grateful for the change. My smile lines got deeper.
Everything in my life led me to where I am today, and I strive to be someone people enjoy being with. When I’m around my friends, I am the truest version of myself—loud, witty, warm. I think I had sisters in another life and we found each other in this one. Letters my friends gave me on my birthday are tacked onto a bulletin board, silly photos are stuck to my wall, and they represent some of the most magical bonds I could share with someone.
Whenever I’m in need of some advice or shared excitement, I know exactly who to go to. My world grew larger and more colorful. Maybe I’m lost, but my friends are there with me through every step, so maybe I’m not lost at all. I’ve learned that there are still so many people to meet, and memories to make, and road trips to go on, and pictures to take. True, life is long and lonely sometimes, but having people by your side makes it all worth it.