The Weekender

Every year, the USC football team plays another local California team and the majority of our school drives up for the weekend to support them. It is a huge celebration between California rivalries and the experience is unreal. This year, me and a few of my best friends drove up to UCBerkeley to watch the game and stay at Nina's place and the time would had together was priceless. Even though we went for the game and delicious home cooked meals, we got so much more out of the trip than you would expect. Typically, students get drunk out of the minds and pre game and party until they forget the night, but the memories we made, I want to remember every second. What started off as being an innocent, carefree college trip, turned into a bonding, unforgettable, best friend experience. To be honest, the car rides to NorCal and back could have very well been the best part of the trip. I opened up in ways I never thought I could after things I went through. In my life, so many things have changed and so many people have walked in and out that sometimes it is hard to process and appreciate all of the things and people around you. I dont take them for granted, but I think that sometimes I dont let myself feel everything I know I am feeling because I am afraid of losing people close to me. This weekend was a game changer and was revolutionary for me. For once, I felt safe again. And loved. I felt understood and genuinely cared for. I guess what I am trying to say is that I couldnt be more thankful for the people I have in my life now. Everything with my best friends, Nina and Hayley, just happens so naturally and effortless. I discovered that no matter what I did or said, I was supported. And I could feel myself caring for them and allowing myself to emotionally invest parts of me I didnt even know I had access to. When we went out to party friday night, all I wanted to do was be with them. There were so many people around drunk and dancing and hooking up, and yet they had all of my interest. Sometimes it is hard to even process how much you care about someone until you evaluate your actions and look at things from the outside...This weekend, I took everything in. We sat and ate meals together and it felt like family. I finally felt like I was where I belonged which is a feeling I have been craving my whole life. We finally have a healthy balance of dependency. They know how much they mean to me and how much I need them, but we know how to support one another and keep the independent parts of ourselves that make us so easy to love. At first, I was hesitant about going on the trip, but now I am so happy I went and never looked back. These are memories I will hold with me for life and I am incredibly thankful that I found the people I wanna spend it with. The weekender was by far one of the best weekends and most unforgettable experiences I have ever had. We have all grown so much together and I couldnt be more excited to discover what is to come.