Families Make The Best Friends

It was my first day at Springville Junior High. I had been up all night picking out my best outfit for this eventful day, but I was so excited that I didn’t even feel tired. I shared a locker that was close to all the cute boys with my best friend. I was anxious to find out what junior high was really like. I had heard some scary things, especially about detention. If you were 30 seconds late to class you had to go sit in a cold, dark basement that smelled like feet for 30 minutes. I’d heard it was really tough to get good grades, and getting good grades was important because now they counted. As long as I had my best friend though, I knew it wouldn’t matter what the school was like. I look back now on that young girl walking down the hall with her heart racing and I realize that the most important thing I learned that year had nothing to do with school. I learned only family members truly stand by your side. I learned how much I depended on my family’s love and support. Families make the best friends, this I believe.

Eighth grade was a really difficult year for me. My friend and I were very close. We were together every day. We had most of our classes at school together, camped out at each other’s house, and on the rare occasions we spent apart we talked on the phone. We were inseparable. But all good things must come to an end, and this was no exception. A boy got between us, and I lost my closest friend.

I don’t know what I would have done without the support of my family. They talked to me and lent a listening ear. I talked to my mom about the ending of our friendship, and she gave me advice. They showed me that there is more to true friendship than merely spending time together. True friends can talk about anything. They listen to each other. True friends encourage you to be your best self. They support you when you feel like everything is falling apart. True friends are always there for you. My family encouraged me to meet new people and make new friends. And although I did make new friends at school, I learned from that experience that I could never ask for better friends than my family.

I am so grateful to be blessed with such a wonderful family. I have parents who support me in all that I do. They push me when they see I am not putting forth my best effort. I have a sister who I can tell anything to. She shows a genuine interest for what is going on in my life. I get home each day and the first words that come out of her mouth are, “Tell me about your day!” I have brothers who stand up for me. They are very protective of me when I go on a date. They ask everything about the guy I leave with. They want to ensure that I am in good hands. I have wonderful in-laws and a sweet baby nephew. I love to spend every minute possible with him.

College life is definitely an adjustment in many areas. I study more, do more in-depth assignments, and I have less money in my wallet. But the hardest thing to get used to is not seeing my family as much as I would like to.

I would not want to go back to eighth grade. That difficult year was full of dramatic changes for me. I was in a big school, my grades were starting to count, and I lost a close friend. But I wouldn’t change it even if I could. I’ve heard that you learn most from the challenges you face, and this was true for me. I learned who my true friends were. My family is amazing, they are my best friends. I look forward each day to seeing my family. I love to take my nephew to the park, and go on walks with my mom and dad. I watch the “Office” regularly with my little brother and can hardly breathe for laughing so hard. I look forward to the day I will have a family of my own and hope we will be just as close. Families make the best friends, this I believe.