My Seven Years: NYE Edition

Here we are again in a new year, and a time when we typically reflect on our past year. This week I was granted the opportunity to reflect rather on the past seven years. These seven years (my college years) are easily the most special to me as far as my personal growth is concerned. When we go away to college, it's the first time in our life we are able to choose really what we want our life to be. We choose our friends because we aren't limited to the small pool of people from our hometowns, and we choose what path in life we wish to begin our journey.

For those of you who know me, you know that I've spent my entire life in the South. It's where my roots are, my best memories were made and my heart will always stay. But, as cliche as it may be, I've always believed things happen for a reason. We encounter people in our lives who shape us into who we will become and where we will go. This all came to light for me this week when my very best friends from undergraduate and graduate school stayed with me in the City for the New Year's Eve holiday.

My first weekend as an undergraduate I met E, and I instantly knew I wanted to be friends with her (mostly because I liked her outfit and wanted to borrow it). Over our four years in college, she became my closest confidant and side-kick. Together, we learned Manwich doesn't come with meat in the can, shared every Stern Sunday brunch, developed a taste for whiskey and no doubt were each other's dates to every date party. 

As we grew (slightly) in maturity, we met M and L-- and quite possibly the more wild pair of the bunch. One year younger than us, they still had the energy to get us up on Saturday morning to go the country club to eat on their parents' tab. My best memories involve ostrich-skin cowboy boots, hand towels and ravioli...maybe I'll explain those one day. Because of them, I will always have an appreciation for lip gloss and ballet flats, and especially a sense of spontaneity that they've never seemed to lose.

When I left the University of Tennessee I was certain I'd never find friends quite like the original beans. We were the ultimate team, and I'm confidant Cumberland Avenue was never the same after we left. But everything happens for a reason, and how wrong I initially was.

I met MA and MT my first week in Charleston. MT (which these are her initials, she's infamous for mass texts) at graduate orientation and MA at "the beach" (disclaimer: quotations note terms in a PG version) MT is the type of girl that's so nice when you meet her that you are positive it's fake. Two-and-a-half years later she's still as kind and golden-hearted as the first day I met her. Literally, I cried one time just because I made her cry (I still think God will make me wait longer at His gates because of that). I don't think I've ever had a friendship go from 0-60 quite like my friendship with MT.

MA on the other hand, I thought I wouldn't end up liking. We joke now that I used to think she was weird, when in fact, I'm certainly the weirdest of the two. She quickly became my roommate and we lived together during my two-year stint in Chucktown. Because of her, I have watched almost every movie to date, have never stopped looking for the throw pillows on the couch and have a serious addiction to raisinetts. Most importantly, I rank my wit at an all time high and ability to score a seat on a boat because of her.

Their visit was the first time that the past seven years of my life have been in one room. It was amazing to see the different personalities of everyone and to note how each of these personalities have shaped who I am. Although our conversations now center around careers, soon-to-be fiances and 401K plans, we can still laugh about what irresponsible lushes we used to be and the poor hearts we broke along the way

Over the past seven years, I went from being a small town girl with very small dreams to a small town girl with a wealth of truly special friends who have helped shape my big dreams. I'm very blessed to have had things turn out the way they did. I never planned to be here, and I never planned to stay friends with people I knew in my earlier days, but I am because they are me, and everything happens for a reason. While we all became friends at different points in our lives, when we were different people to an extent, we've stuck together because each of these moments were the highest points in my life. No matter if we are spread across five cities, we will always be friends, and they will always represent my journey to where I am today.

Cheers to you, DUFFs. LUB.