One important life lesson that I have learned is the value of friendship. I recently relocated from Texas to South Carolina along with my family, and in the process, I made contact with my friends from my hometown in North Carolina and wanted to meet up with them over the summer. We connected once more, and we all thought it was a great idea. We had an entire plan set out: we were going to start at the mall, do a little shopping, go drive around for a bit, and then go for a hike and relax together. When I got back in town, however, the plan changed because one of my friends was hosting his graduation party. I was invited, which I was happy about, but when I got there things seemed a little off. Hardly anyone would talk to me, at least those who were not close to me. The friend whose party I was attending was honestly the only person who spoke with me and wanted to reconnect after so many years apart. We talked about each other's high school experiences, where we were going to college, what we wanted to do for a career, our new hobbies, etc. I had more fun with him than I did my former friend group, and it hurt to know that. I had made a pretty decent friend group when I lived in Texas, we did everything together, but to know that the majority of the friend group that I grew up with did not want anything to do with me when I actually showed up hurt me more than anything ever had before. From that moment on, I began to think back on my life's choices, wondering why they would do such a thing; why they, after so many years of being apart never wanted to interact with me, and then I realized: they were fake friends. After the party, I made plans with the one friend for later in the week to go hang out, which we did. In between us meeting up, I would constantly talk with my friend group in Texas, always checking up on them, always engaging. After that trip to my hometown, I had a newfound love and respect for my Texas friends and began to appreciate them more because they actually care about me, and vice versa. It broke me to know my childhood friends were fake to me my entire life. However, it made me stronger to know that I had other friends who acknowledge and enjoy each other's company, regardless of how long we have been apart. It has helped me even further when I started college as I have a much easier time making friends than I ever thought I would. I have made more friends in Texas and South Carolina combined than I ever dreamed I could when I lived in North Carolina, and my experience with my former friend group made me eternally grateful that I was able to realize that.