Some would say that you make your best friends in college and some would say you make your best friends in high school. For the girl with the blonde hair in the images, it’s both. She often wondered how she would go on with out her tight-knitted group of friends after she left her small tourist town of Beaufort to the big city of Columbia. They did everything together. If they were in school, they were together during their study hall breaks; if they were out of school, they were kicking it at one of their homes. The fear of losing that connection, and having someone to confide in slowly went away when she went of to college.

When they say they were inseparable, they really mean it. Their senior year of high school was the best. They knew they would depart at the end of the year, so they spent as much time together as possible. Spirit week came at the first half of their senior year. This week included: Marvel Monday, Tropical Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, TV Thursday, and Spirit Friday. The friends planned everyday and of course a photo shoot too. Standing on top of cars in every which way, taking pictures at any angle. The girls finally made the decision of the one that they all looked semi-decent in after a 20-minute argument. The picture said 1000 words. Everybody was so close together and happy, much like their friendship. They smiled through the pain of the thought that this was their last spirit week together. Some would finish their last year of high school, while the other would move and continue their education. Oh how they would miss their photo-shoots in the parking lot amongst the rows of their cars. The younger ones would wonder, “Who’s going to park with me next year?” while the older ones wondered, “Who is going to park in my spot?”  They had heavy hearts when somebody brought up the change they were about to endure within the next 6 months, but they pushed through the pain and lived up the rest of their school year. 

One member of the friend group had already graduated and continued to work in Beaufort while the rest of them went to school. The blonde girl was closest to her in so many ways. She had auburn and bright red hair to match her crazy personality. They were a dynamic duo, partners in crime. If you saw one you knew there was going to be the other. The blonder girl could tell her anything and she would understand and most of the times agree. Again, the worry of separation haunted them. Who would hold them on their bad days, who would do their hair and make up for no reason, who would ride around town with them just to listen to their favorite songs on repeat. The more the blonde girl thought about leaving all her friends at the end of the year, the more scared she got. Everybody told her, “Oh, you’re going to love college”. She questioned if it was all worth losing the people she loved. 

As the year continued, the friends had more and more things to do together. This helped subside their thoughts for a time being. Prom came around the corner again. They were ready for round 2. They rented a beach house together from Monday to Sunday of prom week. They saved all their money; it was their last “hoora” together. Wasting all their savings on the house and things they needed for it, didn’t go to waste. They had the time of their lives that week; soaking up the sun and going crazy, as if it was and is their last time together. Saturday then came. The house was loaded with beautiful dresses and tuxes everywhere. The friends were running around making sure there was not a hair or eyelash out of place. This was most of their senior prom, and they vowed to all go together, and they did. The girls looked stunning, and they guys looked like princes. The group finished their pictures, and headed off to dance the night away. None of the smiles were faux; they had the best night of their lives. It was the one time where they weren’t reminded this is it. They danced the night away, and made of fun of each other when they slipped in their heels or loafers. They joked how they all should’ve worn their signature converse, because none of us were that graceful anyway. It was magical for them, just holding on to the time they had and wished it would never end.

A month after prom, the graduation ceremonies began. Most of the friends were graduating (all the boys and the blonde girl), while the 2 girls left sat in the stands fighting back tears of sight of their favorite seniors leaving. They all held it together pretty well… until graduation. The boys that are now men even shed a tear or two, when they walked into their seats. It was their final farewell to high school, the place that brought them all together. They were so sad that they were all going to be split apart, and even more worried that they were never going to find friends like each other again. The blonde girl was filled with fear more than excitement. She was never the best at making friends. Who was going to protect her, understand her guyish humor, would she even make friends at such a big college? Little did they know, all of their fears would subside. 

The end of summer came, most of their friends spent their last week shopping and packing. The other friends helped, making packages hoping they wouldn’t forget about their high school friends. The day came quickly where they had to say their goodbyes.  That was the hardest day of the blonde girl’s life. She was so scared, she feared being alone. She just wanted to fit all her friends in her suitcase. Quickly, she was all moved into her dorm where she was going to be roommates with another random girl. They actually liked each other and began friends quickly. They then became friends with the girls across the hall, and some of their friends. She could finally swallow the pill that she was going to be all right. She often called her friends from home, they felt the same way, and they were having a great time making friends. It made them all feel better knowing that they all found their place and were holding up. The feeling of missing them didn’t go away for her. But that was okay, because she made some best friends that understood. The blonde girl quickly realized that she worried for nothing; everything was going to be okay. She wasn’t going to be alone, scared, lonely, or depressed. She instead was going to feel loved, adventurous, and at home. The group of friends from home soon realized that separation did not mean termination. Just because they lived hours away from each other did not mean that they weren’t going to have anybody, or even be replaced. They were reassured that it was just additional friends that often acted exactly like them. It was a part of life, leaving your comfort zone for the un-known. But, if you were willing to take the leap, somebody was willing to catch you. 