Growing up I always had friends. Every place my family moved to I gained new friends, it was always pretty easy for me. I come from a HUGE family… an immediate family of 6, over 20 1st cousins, countless 2nd cousins, grandparents, great grands that are still alive, and so many aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles that I can’t keep up!

Until I was in college I always thought that friends and family were totally separate and that friends were on a much lower level than family, basically extras that aren’t necessarily a necessity… College taught me soooooooo much about friendships, life, friendships, love, friendships, responsibility, and oh, did I mention friendships! The experiences and challenges many of us faced while in college molded and shaped us into the people we are today and the people we’ll become. Everything happened so fast and all you could do was work through it, all while trying to focus on your studies to earn your degree. College was the boot camp for life in my opinion and if it wasn’t for my battle buddies, I wouldn’t have made it through it!!!

In college I met 4 beautiful young ladies, all from different backgrounds, teachings and trainings, and through those 4 different friendships I met 3 more beautiful young women, then 2 more came along snd who would have known that 6 years later we would still be rolling strong. These young women are not only my friends but my sisters! We were all in college with different directions in mind but we all shared a common goal, and that is what brought us together …and love, loyalty and truth is what has kept us together!

Indeed it was not a cake walk! In friendships I had to learn that it is hard work sometimes. Life brings about situations and seasons in which you may have to try harder than others or lesser than others, in order for your friendships to survive. Luckily for me though I have been blessed to meet individuals who have made this journey an exciting, fun, memorable and fairly easy one!!

Not everyone is privileged to have people in their lives that are like extended families. Friends aren’t about clones that do everything you want when you want, basically replicas of you, but true friends are people that you can turn to in times of trouble, even just to listen or talk to, hang out with to ease your mind away from life’s troubles and help guide you as well as walk with you down life’s paths, and for you to do the same for. If God has blessed you with people who are loyal, caring, honest, supportive and loving, cherish every moment with them, show them how much you appreciate them and make as many memories with them as possible!

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels