Opinion

New friends bring new adventures

By Amanda White

February 21, 2013

“The Breakfast Club.” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” “Harry Potter.” These classic films all have one thing in common: a ragtag bunch of misfits who somehow come together and form a bond like none other.

I never knew I would find my misfit crew worthy of a John Hughes movie or popular sitcom the week I moved to New York. I was actually terrified I wouldn’t make any friends once I got here, so I was prepared to read a lot and watch entire series of TV shows. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Disclaimer: I run the risk of my new friends actually reading this column, so I preface this most likely sappy piece of my feelings with an apology to Kaylie, Dan, Isabel and Sam. I’ll try not to embarrass you.

There are five of us in our aptly named misfit crew, two guys and three girls. We are all part of the National Student Exchange program, so we all hail from states strewn across the country, and we all live in the same apartment building. We met each other online and made plans to hang out without ever knowing if we would even get along. It turns out we get along famously.

I knew Kaylie before anyone else. We were randomly assigned to be roommates in our on-campus apartment and we hit it off immediately, even though we are different. She is the biggest sweetheart I have ever been a friend with, while I am guilty of being sassy and bossy. We are quite a team and are together almost 24 hours a day.

We watch hours of “Glee” and “Community,” dance around to all kinds of music and trip over each other in our tiny bathroom. Kaylie is from Wyoming, dresses like Serena from “Gossip Girl” and acts like Reese Witherspoon (a comparison she is not fond of).

Kaylie met Dan through email, even though they actually go to the same school in Wyoming. Dan is a total bro. I can say this fact so bluntly because he knows he is one. I was sure we wouldn’t get along because he freaks out over electronic music, while I listen to the original cast recording of “Les Misérables” daily. But like Kaylie, Dan is a sweetheart. I’ve never had a guy friend like him before. He says “bro” a lot, not ironically, and calls us his “crew.”

Isabel is from Arizona and we truly couldn’t be any different. She is short, Latina and she always looks put together, and I am tall, not Latina and a hot mess most of the time. Yet somehow we are together a lot.

She taught me how to wear lipstick and buy clothes for the club, which is totally not my scene, and I introduced her to “Girls.”

I have more traits in common with Sam than anyone else I have ever met. We could talk for hours about any given subject, we are both in love with Jay Z and Beyonce´ and we even have the same style of glasses. We also understand each other’s ambitions and goals, which may be unusual but important to us. He usually knows what I’m talking about which is a big step for me.

On paper, the five of us shouldn’t work. But we do. I have never really had my group of weirdoes that I hang out with every single day; I think this is because I work a lot while in Minnesota and Wisconsin and so do my friends, but in New York we don’t have that type of responsibility. We just spend a lot of time exploring. Just last week we went to the New York Public Library, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park and Lincoln Center to see the New York City Ballet.

I even met the actors who played the Weasley twins in the “Harry Potter” movies.

These people accepted me right away just the way I am. I have never felt like I have to try to fit in with them. They think I am hilarious and they compliment my clothes. They all even watch “Glee” with me even though they’re not fans. That’s love. I honestly feel like I’m on a TV show with these people. I’ll write that show someday.

I never, ever expected to find these people in New York.

I am already sad about leaving them after the semester is over. Kaylie, Dan, Isabel and Sam have taught me how to have fun like a college student should and my semester in New York will always be remembered as a new adventure with my “crew” every day. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

Amanda White is a junior majoring in journalism. She appreciates good books, good style, and good conversation.