To the friends who never left me,
“Friendship isn’t about whom you’ve known the longest. It’s about who came into your life and never left your side”.
This quote is something that I relate to when it comes to four of the most important people in my life. They are my four best friends who have indeed never left my side and who have been there for me even when I wasn’t there for myself.
Y’all have had some of the greatest impacts on my life and have taught me so many lessons in our time as friends. You taught me how to love myself when I didn’t have the strength to go on. You taught me that friendship isn’t about partying together and the superficial things in life but about the emotional conversations you have at three in the morning when you should be in bed.
You’ve shown me that even though we have all been through extremely difficult times in our lives, being there for each other is the best way to move on. You all have helped me grow into a person that I am proud to say I am today.
You have encouraged my passions. You have been by my side to help me ignite said passions in any way possible. You have constantly reminded me that even when I’m tired and don’t feel like what I do is important, that it is important and that I need to keep fighting for what I believe in. Even if I’m the only one fighting.
To the people in my life who I know are my true lifelong friends, the friends they talk about in Pinterest and Tumblr posts, the friends who you plan your life with, the friends who you already refer to as your bridesmaids or the aunts or godparents to your children. Because there isn’t a time in your life where you wouldn’t want them present.
You all inspire me with your different personalities, beliefs, passions, and ways of loving others. Even when I am hard to love or when y’all are being annoying af, I know that we will get through whatever because I truly believe the four of you are not just my best friends, but my family.
I hope that this article finds you well. Some of you are starting a brand new journey five or six hours away, growing and becoming an even more beautiful version of yourself at WVU. Or you are changing lives by serving as an RA and ambassador or doing service programs at Stevenson University, right down the road from me.
No matter how far away y’all are, I take comfort in knowing that we don’t always have to talk every day to be close because we always pick up right where we left off. As a picture frame in my room reminds me, “good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know that they are always there”.
To my Shanaynay,
Damn have we been through a lot in our lives. We became best friends back in 8th grade (let’s not even talk about those horrid days), and you have been a monumental influence in my life ever since. I immediately wanted to be friends with you because of your pure joy and friendliness that you radiate to those around you.
You are a gift to this world. You help others in their time of need, no matter what you are going through. The best example I can give of this is how you helped me grieve the loss of Grace, even after your dad passed away. We both lost so much in such a short period of time, but you were still the person I ran to when I was in my time of need.
I know your dad would be so proud of all that you are doing, and if he was here, he would be begging to take us to dinner for your birthday with his little camera case intact. I will never forget that moment I saw him bouncing towards us outside of PF Changs for your birthday dinner, because for me, that was the epitome of what I see of him in you.
He gave you your happiness, and that is something I have been lucky enough to have been a part of. Thanks for texting me that you miss me, checking up on me, and sending me drunk snaps.
To my TeeTee,
It only made sense that both of us became friends because of our loner status in high school. You were always there to gossip with me. I never get tired of your random and very vague texts asking me to tell you the name of someone because you literally knew the name of about three kids at Glenelg.
Despite being a weirdo loner, you are one of the most thoughtful people I have ever met. I clearly remember sitting in my car crying on one of Grace’s Angelversaries or birthdays (I can’t remember which). You came to get me from my car to walk me into school because I’m an anxious idiot.
I’ll never forget the gift you made for me that still sits on my desk to this day, five years later. You always seem to know what I need to hear. You know me so well, and my family loves you way more than they love me.
Even though we barely see each other during the year, I look forward to the random texts and phone calls from you (especially when one of us has had some drinks) and our nights of laying on the couch eating and watching tv. You are forever my favorite hussy.
To my Hanahnah,
I hope you know that I’m writing this on the day that you board your plane to head to Newcastle for three months. After seeing you practically every week this summer and almost every day last year, I know this will be tough.
You are my sunshine. You bring joy into every room, conversation, and friendship that you enter. You are so kind to others, even when they may not be that kind to you. You share my love of fighting for the rights of those who don’t have their voices, and I must say, we make a pretty good pair.
You have been the person who constantly checks in on me, even when I am depressed and isolating myself. You honestly know me better than I know myself, which is probably due to the fact that we are literally the same person.
I admire your perseverance, determination, commitment to others, and closeness with your family. You go out of your way to make others feel better about themselves, even when you may be struggling.
I don’t know what I’m going to do this semester without my lunch and dinner buddy or who will be my unofficial roommate this semester, but as long as you kick ass in Newcastle and have the time of your life, I will be perfectly fine. I will be waiting in Cumberland for you when you get back (Denny’s the night of your return???).
To my Lil,
Out of all of my best friends, I feel that I have gotten the pleasure of watching you grow the most in these two years of friendship. Your one of the most educated, bad ass females I have ever met, and I am constantly wondering what it is you will do or say next.
You have taught me so much about feminism, body positivity, and loving yourself. We are the perfect beertenders together, and even better as a flip cup team. I love how we will both call people out on their shit and help others whenever possible.
Even though you are in France for the whole year, I am so happy that you are living your dreams and get to do all of the things that you have always imagined you would do. I can’t wait to hear all of your stories at Christmas when I come ON the Cape (you don’t live IN Cape Cod, but ON Cape Cod).
These three months without you and Hannah, my right hand girls (Hamilton reference???) are going to be pure hell, but I honestly know that the reunion will be even better because of it.
I have already made Jan and Dan (my parents) aware that my only Christmas present will be to “send me to my Lil.” I can’t wait to Facetime (I know we’ve been trying forever to pick a time), and I look forward to seeing what you do this year.
The four of you have made my life and my heart so full and so happy. I truly don’t know how I would’ve gotten through some of my worst days without you all by my side. I love you all to the moon and back.
Love,
Dana
