I left elementary school friendless. I was very much the weird kid, there was nothing about me that made me fit into any cliques-and, yes, we already had cliques. Granted, this wasn’t helped by my attendance, my hobbies or how I treated those around me. I was always nice, but I found that when kids are continuously cruel to you, you tend to get them in trouble as often as possible. I did not like this reputation, but how does one change a reputation? It happens in a series steps, one that is no fun process. I entered middle school with the idea that I wanted to change. I didn’t want to be “popular”, but likeable, that I would shoot for. So, I receded. I stopped talking so much, I stopped talking at all. I lived in my own world, pulling straight A’s and making semi-friends because at least I wasn’t loud or annoying or a “snitch”. Seventh grade year, I met the people who would change my life.
My group of friends was the most diverse that anyone ever saw. We came together by accidents, and stayed together because we became like family. We had a variety of interests and personalities, which should clash, and sometimes did. But, they taught me acceptance. I will forever owe them who taught me to break a rule every now and then. Who taught me that if people were terrible to me, they were a waste of my time. And, who showed me that my dreams were not unreasonable, because they, to, could dream. Whether we wanted to be artists or Broadway stars or CEOs or authors, we had the mutual agreement that one way or another, we would all get there. There was no doubt about it. We gave each other funny, immature nicknames. We told as many pointless jokes as we had long, political and personal conversations. People didn’t mess with us, because we had each other’s backs, and we carried the air that words didn’t faze us-even if, deep down, they did. Having a good group of friends is like magic.
They change your life, your attitude, your hopes, your everything. Granted, nothing good can last. That thing about us, that kept us together so long, ripped us apart-we were ambitious. I lost a friend to each school in the area. Even those of us who came here together pursued different things-different courses, different goals and different relationships. We talk, or at least some of us do, but we will never have what we did. Sometimes I wonder if now, I am the only one who wants it. It is hard to say. But, some things I know. We will ALWAYS have each other’s backs, no matter what. When we fall, we have each other to fall on.
And, I owe you a lot. I am who I am now because I knew these people. They changed my entire being, in two short years. Without them, I don’t think I would talk, or chase my dreams, or stand up for myself, or ever have any fun at all. I think we all hope to find that again someday, somehow. It won’t be easy. But, we’re on our way. And, I know that I. at least, would rather have known and lost them than never have known them at all.