Picture yourself walking through the doors for the first time the first day your freshman year. Some of your friends from middle school may have been re-districted to other high schools and it’s up to you to find new ones. Four years later you’re posting pictures on Instagram of you and your best friends in your red and black gowns, diplomas in hand.

In interviews with LHS seniors, all were still friends with their middle school classmates. They maintained friendship, “by going by going to football games together, hanging out, having the same lunches, and meeting in-between classes.” said Bridget Myers.

On the other hand, many people assimilate themselves into a group of friends that participate in the same sport or share the same interests and hobbies. Those who stay on a same team for all four years would most likely bond with everyone else on the team.

Senior Noah Sommers is highly involved with the theater. He said, “Don’t take them [friends] for granted and whatever happens just go with the flow.”

Senior Josh Folb also advised to “Be real. Don’t worry about what other people think.”

Seniors hope to remain close to their friends, even though they are headed to different colleges in 10 months. Senior Morgan Cary who is actively involved with yearbook said she “still hopes to be friends after going separate ways.”

According to an article on WebMD, Crissman Ishler, a professor of counselor education of Pensylvania State University, researcged college adjustment and found that “female first-year students have a difficult time letting go of their precollege friendships, a source of comfort and stability, as well as a link to the past.”

JV volleyball player sophomore Kiley Cross remembers that “she got closer with some people after figuring out who her real friends were.”

Seniors may not remember how hard friendships could be their freshman year. Most saw sports and other extracurricular activities playing roles in either making or breaking friendships. So if you are involved with a club or team, be sure to check that you are surrounding yourself with people who will have positive influences on your high school career.

The senior year puts extra pressure on friendship: some are working a job, have steady relationships, and are starting the college application process. Claire Soper, a hard-working senior at LHS said, “I’m working a lot and am focused more on school and grades.”

Myers also mentioned it was “better to be diverse because come college you’ll have to make new friends.”

Freshmen Jake Gonterek and Rachel Zuniga said they plan to stay with the same friend group until graduation, but only time will tell.