In kindergarten, your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In first grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In second grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In third grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus.

In fourth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck with Nasty Nicky or Smelly Susan.

In fifth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In sixth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who went up to Nicky or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said " no " , you wouldn't have to be embarrassed.

In seventh grade, your idea of a friend was the person who helped you to study the social studies homework from the night before that you had.

In eighth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who helped you pack up your fluffy toys and old baseball cards so that your room would be a " high schooler's " room, but didn't laugh at you when you finished and broke out into tears.

In ninth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who went to that party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up being the only freshman there.

In tenth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with at lunch.

In eleventh grade, your idea of a friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found you had a date to the prom.

In twelfth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who helped you pick out a college/ university, assured you that you would get into that college / university and helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to the idea of letting you go.

At graduation, your idea of a friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you.

The summer after twelfth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who helpful you clean up the bottles from that party; helped you sneak out of the house when you just couldn't deal with your parents; assured you that now that you and Nick or you and Susan were back together, you could make it through anything; helped you pack up for university and just silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at 18 years of memories you were leaving behind; and finally on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in college as well as you had these past 18 years; and most importantly sent you off to college knowing you were loved.

Now, your idea of a friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!

Thank you for being a friend. No matter where we go or who we become, never forget who helped us get there.

幼儿园时，好朋友是当你的手中只剩一支丑陋的黑蜡笔时给你红蜡笔的人。

一年级时，好朋友是陪你一起去厕所、牵着你的手陪你穿过令人恐怖的走廊的人。

二年级时，好朋友是帮助你勇敢地抵抗班上那些欺凌弱小同学的人。

三年级时，好朋友是当你将午餐遗忘在公车上时与你分享午餐的人。

四年级时，好朋友是那个在体育馆内跳方块舞时与你交换舞伴，让你不必与讨厌的尼克或者苏姗跳舞的人。

五年级时，好朋友是在公车后面为你占座的人。

六年级时，好朋友是那个走到你喜欢的尼克或苏珊面前，邀请他们与你共舞，即使他们拒绝，也不会让你感到尴尬的人。

七年级时，好朋友是在你需要交社会学科家庭作业的前一天晚上，帮你补习功课的人。

八年级时，好朋友是帮你整理塞满了玩具动物和过期棒球票的房间，让它成为标准的"中学生宿舍"，而后当你感激得流下眼泪也不会嘲笑你的人。

九年级时，好朋友是陪你一起参加高年级同学举办的派对让你不会因陌生人而感到紧张的人。

十年级时，好朋友是改变原来的计划留下来与你共进午餐的人。

十一年级时，好朋友是开着新车带你兜风，说服你的父母信任你，当你与尼克与苏珊分手时安慰你并在舞会上给你介绍朋友的人。

十二年级时，好朋友是帮你挑选大学，让你相信自己能考上大学，当你即将离开父母，帮助他们调整心态，接受你即将远行的人。

毕业时，好朋友是掩饰内心的痛苦，却努力绽放出最灿烂的笑容向你表示祝贺的人。

毕业那年暑假，好朋友是在派对过后帮你收拾干净所有的瓶子，当你与父母闹别扭时帮你偷偷溜出去，保证你和尼克或苏珊重归于好并度过一切难关，帮助你打点上大学的行装，静静地拥抱你与你一同含泪回首过去 18 年的童年时光，并不断鼓励你给你信心，让你相信自己能在大学校园里活得如同过去的 18 年里般游刃有余，最重要的是为你送行让你知晓自己是被爱着的人。

现在，好朋友仍是那个给你更好的选择，在你害怕时握住你的手，帮你击退那些企图利用你的人，分别时牵挂着你，提醒你遗忘的东西，帮你忘掉过去，并帮你了解你什么时候最需要坚持再久一会儿，陪伴在你身边让你树立信心，不厌其烦地为你腾出时间，帮你改正错误、应对压力，即使不愉快时也会对你微笑，帮你进一步完善自己，最最重要的是真正爱你的人！

感谢你，朋友！无论我们走到哪儿，无论我们干什么，永远也别忘记是谁让我们拥有了今天的一切！
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