Why Your School Friends Are Always the Best (No Matter How Much Time Has Passed)

Ah, school friends. Those trusty companions who survived the chaos of homework, questionable fashion choices, and that awkward phase where we thought frosted tips were a good idea.

Whether you’re keeping in touch on Facebook or occasionally reminiscing over coffee, there’s something about your school friends that no one else can quite replicate. They’re the ones who truly “get” you, even after all these years.

So, what makes your school friends the best? Let’s break it down, shall we?

1. They Knew You Before You Had to Try

Let’s face it: when we’re young, we don’t try to impress anyone. We show up to school in whatever was clean (or was on the top of the laundry pile), we leave our hair in its natural state (no Instagram filter here), and we have absolutely no idea what “adulting” even means. It’s all about just being you, unfiltered, unpolished, and often a little bit goofy.

School friends have seen you at your most authentic. They knew you when your biggest worry was whether your crush would notice your cool new skate shoes or if you’d get away with eating pizza in class. No pretence, no facades, just good old-fashioned you. And they still like you. If that doesn’t prove a friendship’s worth, I don’t know what does.

2. They Were There for Every Embarrassing Moment

Remember that time you tripped in front of the whole class while trying to act cool? Or when you blurted out the wrong answer in the most dramatic way possible? Your school friends were there, probably laughing along with you (or maybe at you, but hey, it’s all love now). Those moments, while cringeworthy at the time, are the ones that bind you together.

And here’s the best part: those school friends never let you forget it! But not in a mean way, of course. In a “we’re all in this together” kind of way. It’s like an unspoken rule that anything embarrassing you’ve done is just part of the lore of your friendship. You can be a grown-up now, but those moments are still the stuff of inside jokes that never lose their sparkle.

3. They’re Your OG Ride or Dies

You don’t need to tell them everything because they’ve already been there for everything. They were there for the crushes, the meltdowns, the fights over who’s turn it was to pick the lunch table, and the sleepovers that lasted far too long (with way too much junk food). Your school friends are your original ride-or-die crew, the ones who knew you before you became “a serious adult.”

These are the people who still remember when you were obsessed with collecting Beanie Babies or the time you wore that questionable neon green sweater. They’ve seen your highs and lows, and no matter how many years pass, they still have your back.

4. They Don’t Judge Your Quirks—They Celebrate Them

Remember that weird phase when you were obsessed with collecting stamps or learning every single word to that one random song? If you’ve ever had a quirky obsession, your school friends were the ones who accepted it wholeheartedly (and might’ve even joined in). While other people might have raised an eyebrow at your, let’s say, unique interests, your school friends? They cheered you on.

And now that you’re a grown-up, those quirky little things are still you. And guess what? Your school friends don’t just tolerate them, they celebrate them! They’re the ones who will still make you feel like the coolest person in the room, no matter how many times you’ve changed hobbies, careers, or fashion styles since those days.

5. They Were With You Through the Evolution of Your Awkward Phases

Let’s face it: we were all awkward at some point. Whether it was an awkward stage in fashion, friendships, or just trying to figure out who we were, school friends were there for it all. And guess what? They still liked you anyway!

Those were the years when you were still figuring out how to carry yourself, how to style your hair, and maybe even how to talk to that cute person in class. And those school friends, bless them, didn’t bat an eye when you wore that too-big-for-you jacket or tried to rock that incredibly unflattering hairstyle. They were there, cheering you on through every awkward stumble, and, most importantly, they probably didn’t bring it up later (unless it was to laugh about it, of course).

6. You Share the Same Nostalgic References

School friends are the ones you can have a full-blown conversation just by referencing something from your childhood, whether it’s that one crazy teacher, the time you all watched Titanic at a sleepover, or the horrible music video for “Barbie Girl” (and yet you still know every word).

You share the same cultural touchstones, the same memories, the same history. While others may look at you with confusion when you mention “the great jelly bean debate of 2002,” your school friends are nodding along, ready to jump in with their own version of the story. And nothing bonds you like the shared nostalgia of a very specific moment from 20 years ago that only the two of you (and your other school friends) will truly understand.

7. They Know Your Family Like Their Own

School friends don’t just know you, they know your whole family. They’ve seen your parents at school events, met your little brother who used to sneak into your room to steal your stuff, and probably shared a few awkward moments with your family members, too. Over the years, these friends have become honorary members of your clan. They’ve been around for all the family BBQs, holidays, and that one time your sibling broke your favourite thing (and you totally blamed them).

There’s something special about those school friends who feel like family because they’ve had a front-row seat to all the important moments in your life. They’re not just friends, they’re part of your personal history, your inner circle, and your lifelong crew.

8. They Have No Agenda—They Just Want to Hang Out

As we get older, relationships can sometimes become complicated. We’re juggling work, life, and trying to maintain all sorts of social circles, and it can start to feel like everyone wants something from us. But school friends? They don’t need anything. They’re just happy to be with you.

You don’t need to impress them with fancy dinners or impressive stories of your career successes (or failures). You can just sit together, reminisce about the good ol' days, and laugh at how far you’ve come. The best part? No one’s asking for favours or looking for anything beyond a good time. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

Your school friends are the ones who have seen you at your most unpolished, awkward, and purely you, and they stuck around anyway. They’re your comfort zone, your history, your ride-or-die squad. No matter how much time passes, they’ll always be the people who truly get you in a way no one else can. And honestly, that’s pretty rare and special.

So, here’s to school friends, the ones who still make you laugh about that tragic dance move you pulled off at the school prom and the ones who can reminisce about that time you definitely got caught sneaking out of class. They’ll always be the best because they knew you first, and they loved you anyway.