The concept of having a best friend has always been complex to me. When I was younger, the term “ best friend” was much easier to throw around. Nowadays, I think adulthood teaches you a lot about the circle of people you want to surround yourself with. Honestly, I’m not surprised childhood friendships are hard to keep. Growth is such an important thing for friendships, especially with the first few you have. You’re still learning about the person you’re becoming, so it’s difficult to take in so many different personalities and lifestyles.

One friendship that always inspired me was my mother and her best friend from 1st grade. When I was little, there were times when I forgot that her best friend wasn’t related to us. I always imagined having a best friend for that long. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen when I was a kid. That’s completely okay though. I believe the universe was preparing me for the great people who were going to walk into my life.

Now, I strongly believe I found a person who will be my life for years down the line. His name is Julio. I met Julio in my freshman year at Iona, and since then we’ve been practically inseparable. The one thing that I first noticed about Julio, is that I could easily open up to him without feeling judged. This was an immediate thing. He makes me feel at ease whenever I’m stressed because of the “let it happen” personality he has.

I felt so comfortable around him and I was almost confused about it. He’s the type of friend that when we hang out, we can either hysterically laugh for hours or chill in silence and simply exist. I appreciated the way he has cared about me. He really feels like family to me. One time we were at Grand Central Station with his mom, and people genuinely thought we were a family, and his mom didn’t even correct them.

We’re definitely different in many ways, but I think we balance each other well. The amount of inside jokes we have that not a single person would be able to understand. His humor is something that takes months to comprehend, but once you do, it’s quite entertaining. He can make anything funny. Sometimes I will be in a class and I’ll randomly think about something Julio has said, and I have to hide my laughter. Our friendship is just so bright for me. He understands me in a way that I don’t think I can fully comprehend myself.  We know exactly what each other is thinking just by a facial expression or even body language. College has been an interesting experience for both of us, so I truly don’t know what I would do if I’d never met him. I’m so proud of the person he has become since knowing him, and I’m so excited to see the future he creates.

Julio, whenever you read this, I hope you liked it! I love you and I’m so thankful for the friendship we’ve made. You’re such a lucky star. Thank you.