These three words tend to be reserved for close family or lovers, and they’re not words we take lightly. They’re simple syllables we use to try to express even a fraction of our adoration towards someone. Now, most people would agree that love is meant to represent caring and devotion, but who these feelings are directed to is where disagreements start to occur.

If “I love you” is reserved for those closest to our hearts, the people we’re willing to have by our side for the rest of our lives, why shouldn’t they also be extended to our closest friends? After all, feelings of concern don’t strictly apply to romantic partners. Friends are an equally important component of our daily lives, whether we realize it or not.

So, what are some ways friends improve our lives, and why are they just as important to consider? For starters, friends can be each other’s “knights in shining armor!” It can be something as simple as saving you from eating lunch alone in the NAC. They’re the ones there to make sure you’re okay at the end of the day. Having someone with you throughout the school day can provide a subtle feeling of safety, as there’s a friendly presence nearby willing to help in case of trouble. 

It’s easy to take friendship for granted, because why wouldn’t we see our friend—a student—at school every day? However, whether we realize it or not, they save us from isolation or awkwardness in a variety of situations, so it would make sense for us to feel grateful towards them. It is for this same reason that we’re quick to notice when our friend isn’t in class. Maybe it’s Tuesday, and the friend you go to Key Club with is out sick. If it’s routine to go to this club with your friend, their absence will be overwhelmingly noticeable, and it’s possible you might choose not to go at all. 

Apart from providing a support system, friends give us someone to relate to. Friendships are inherently built off of similarities between people—such as music tastes, morals, hopes, dislikes, etc. It’s easier to “click” with someone if the two of you share something in common. This is where the idea of a platonic soulmate comes from, as well.

You might have a friend you get along with so well, it feels like the stars themselves arranged it because wow it’s easy to get along with them. This person is someone you could swear you’ve met in another life because it feels so natural. At first, maybe you only talked to them because you two liked the same show, but now, conversations can be about anything between you two. In such a big world, it’s comforting to have someone who can relate to you, even on small levels like a favorite dessert. It proves we’re not alone, easing feelings of isolation or alienation in the classroom. 

There’s a lot of trust that has to be put in friendships, allowing yourself to depend on someone or sharing interests with them. So much work and care is put into long lasting friendships that it would be strange to say our closest friends shouldn’t be on the list of people we love. So, with Valentine’s Day approaching, maybe don’t reserve those “I love you”s just for a romantic partner. Maybe it’s okay to say those to a close friend; just because it’s a different type of love, doesn’t mean it doesn’t count.