One of my biggest fears in BBYO is next year. My best friend is a year older than me, and the time has come when she is in her final year. A while ago, I realized that next year, she won’t be with me. Since then, that thought hasn’t left my head.

I feel a little stumped. The girl I became friends with at my first ever program 2 years ago has not left my side since. We’ve always done everything together from being on board for the first time together to steering together to ILN together. We've really done it all. She has been here for every step of my BBYO journey and next year when I’m continuing on she won’t be there.

What can I do? Well, not a lot, but my conclusion that I’ve come to is that it’ll be ok. I find myself reciting lots of affirmations daily to bring myself comfort. For example:

I know that she can’t get rid of me just by going away to University, and that makes me happy. I also know she will be getting tons of voice messages from me after every program to give her a full debrief. I ALSO know that for any issue I ever have in BBYO, she will be the first person I go to and the only person whose advice I will actually take. 

A lot of these things bring me comfort in life. While BBYO was the thing that brought us together, I know that our friendship has grown outside of BBYO, and that helps me know it’ll all be ok. While I’m so thankful for the friendships BBYO has brought to me, this is one of the bittersweet parts of it. If anyone reading this is worried about their friendship with a Senior when you aren’t alone, don’t worry.

BBYO has brought us a lifelong connection to one another, and I know no matter how much time passes and how long I go without talking to someone from BBYO, I can always call them in any situation I am in, and they would pick up on the first ring and come to me no matter what.

Growth is a part of life and honestly living in the moment. Appreciate all the time you have now and make the most of it all because if this has taught me anything, it is that no matter how much time you think you have in BBYO, it all goes by so quickly.

I hope you all enjoyed this story and that maybe it helped you out a little with coming to terms with this stuff! In case my best friend is reading this, I just wanted to say thanks, Lily. I wouldn’t do this with any other person, and even if it hurts to know you're leaving, I wouldn’t change anything because you're going to do amazing things, and I’m so proud.