Lucky Me

If I could choose a moment when I could truly exhale without the weight of the world crushing me, it would be the second I’m in the presence of my best friends. In this lifetime, people walk in and out of your life with the changing seasons. However, I can say with absolute certainty that it is no coincidence I was enrolled in a psychology class (which later made me want to change majors), and a complete stranger reached out to me for homework help. He adopted me into his friend group a year later.

As the newest addition to the group, I genuinely look up to each one of them for different reasons. Claude is selfless toward those he cares about. Ryan never fails to stand up for what is right. Marianna is grounded in humility. Mia always brings the life to a party; there is never a dull moment with her. In a time when I had no idea who I was, their steady friendship and acceptance allowed me to become who I was supposed to be.

We have 7pm dinners and 2am cookout runs. We offer each other advice, encouragement, and support. We hug each other through heartbreak and in celebration. We toast to birthdays and small wins. But more importantly, we’re always there for each other— side by side through grief, new internships, studying abroad, and navigating our twenties.

I’ve never had friends like the ones I have right now at 21.