SAN JOSE, CALIF. – As my High School career comes to an end, I begin to realize how important the connections I’ve made with my friends have become as we spend our last few days together. 

When we first came to Silver Creek as freshmen, my friends and I grouped together because we all came from the same middle school. Our connections from our previous years are part of what brought us together to build strong relationships with each other. However, bringing in friends and making new ones strengthened our bonds as well. 

My friends and I will repeatedly have this conversation about how we’ve all lasted together for 4 years, and even eighteen months of having no psychical contact due to the pandemic. One thing we will always say for the reason we are still friends and will continue to be after High School is very simple: We actually like each other. 

And although liking each other seems like such a simple thing for a friend group to do, it actually is difficult. My friends and I have always taken the time to get to know each other individually. We know each other and how they are outside the group and we like, love and care for each other. 

One big factor in how we’ve stayed friends for 4 years is that none of us get jealous. This means not getting upset when we create friendships outside of school. Although this is quite straightfoward, it’s an observation we’ve seen that isn’t in other groups. Like any other group of teenage girls we gossip, we hear what other friends go through and think “Well, not us,” 

So how can you be like us? How can you build strong, long-lasting friendships?

 Surround yourself with good people. Make friends with people who you know will benefit greatly from, and who will benefit from you as well. 

Don’t allow yourself to be a jealous person. Your friends have lives, and that means they’ll possibly be making friends without you. 

And love your friends. When it comes down to it, keeping friends around for years to come can be very simple with these few steps and advice.