Friendship, Friends, Relationships. These are all simple, plain words we hear regularly, but what does it mean to be a friend? The answer to that question is simple: There is no answer. The core concept of friendship encapsulates an embroidered tapestry of all our best traits. It is an everlasting concept that portrays our true human core. Friendship includes connecting with one another. Friendship includes mutual trust. Friendship includes support. Friendship gives you a place of belonging. Eight billion individuals on our planet Earth, each one with a unique personality, yet somehow, we are all strung together. Friendships are the groundwork of our everyday lives. 

Capricorn 

Loyal, Welcoming, Practical, Loving (though they may not always express it)

I stood before the door that I felt would transform my life. A new school, new people, and a completely new environment. I stood there awkwardly, nervous and shy, when all of a sudden, from the back of my head, I heard, “Hey, don’t be overwhelmed, I got you.” Surprisingly, a wave of relief sweeps over me as a gentle smile plasters across my face. 

That was my first introduction to one of my closest friends for the past seven years. On my first day at SAS, as a swamped sixth-grader, I met Alexa, who welcomed me, a stranger, with open arms. She invited me to sit with her at lunch and introduced me to her friends. She walked me to class and helped me find my way through school. 

Two weeks ago, I sat in the cafeteria, filled with stress and dismay, over my heap of assignments. I hear a voice at the back of my head: “There are only twenty-four hours in a day; do what you can and leave the rest; there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.” While I had spent the entire day putting pressure on myself, Alexa snapped me back to reality instantly. Aligned with the cosmic patterns of a Capricorn are the traits that Alexa has resembled over the past seven years of our friendship. Through all our many ups and downs, she has stuck by me, keeping me on track, filling me with laughter, supporting me, and giving the most comforting hugs.

Aquarius 

Faithful, Attentive, Supportive, Straightforward 

On a regular Tuesday evening, my timid, 6-year-old self lingered around the playground, building the courage to join in on the seesaw game but not quite able to string the words together to ask the other children. The next day, I was on the seesaw, ecstatic and gleeing from the fun I was having. How the sudden shift? Well, it was my dad. He left work early to come downstairs with me in the evening and help introduce me to the other kids. My only guaranteed lifelong best friend is my dad. Initially, the assumption comes across as it is typically unconventional for a parent to be a best friend; however, contrary to that, my reality has been completely reversed. For the past 17 years, every single moment of every single day, my dad has been my biggest supporter, friend, and mentor. Ever since a tender age, we have shared a special bond. He always told me, “I may be your father first, but I’m your buddy equally as much.” 

At the end of every challenging or good day that I had, there he was at the dinner table, waiting to hear all about it. Every time I needed advice or got into an argument, there he was, ready to help me come up with a solution, even if that meant sometimes making me realize that I was in the wrong. To this day, we go downstairs to the playground to take a walk and rant. 

Today, as we dive deeper into the college admission process, there he is, putting in hours of his time, giving me feedback, encouraging me, and being a pillar as I face the most stressful time in my life. The one person I will forever be grateful for is my rock and my fervent ally.

Pisces 

Moody, Secretive, Greedy (Slightly)

Now, please don’t get me wrong. There are numerous Pisces out there with powerful positive traits. There are multiple pieces out there that are incredibly hardworking, successful, and unconditionally loving and supportive towards their friends. All of that is nothing less than the truth. Nonetheless, my experience, on the other hand, has been somewhat the opposite. In 8th grade, I befriended a Pisces, and while it started better than one could imagine, soon after, it trailed off. Let’s call her Friend P. 

Friend P and I met on the squishy courts in the middle school in 8th grade. We seemed to bond instantly, and our time together was filled with laughter and enthusiasm. However, when she got her math test back and didn’t do as well as she had hoped, she began to turn on me. She wasn’t directly rude to me but indirectly seemed annoyed, made snarky comments, and made me face the wrath of her mood swings. I initially trailed it off, giving her the benefit of the doubt of having a bad day; after all, don’t we all? 

Unfortunately, that was not the only time it happened. As a loving friend by her side, I tried to be there for her through all her ups and downs, while she treated me with different attitudes when it convenienced her. Every time I was successful at something, she portrayed a happy face, but deep down, she didn’t like it. Every time I was unhappy and needed a friend by my corner, she failed to be there. Not once, not twice, but nearly every single time. 

 In 9th grade, I had befriended someone new, something that Friend P wasn’t overjoyed about, as I had started spending a lot of time with her. She intentionally became friends with my new friend, and before I knew it, she started badmouthing me.

In 10th grade, I realized how unfair this relationship had been. Instead of helping me, she would criticize me, instead of making our friendship equal, she would look to benefit herself. One occurrence in particular happened almost every single day. She would take bites of my food without permission, which honestly I didn’t mind as she was a friend, but when it came to me taking a bite and actually asking to do so, it was always a NO.

Aries

Humorous, Sarcastic, Compassionate, Supportive

Chandler Muriel Bing. When most of us hear this name, we instinctively have an image of the famous character from friends. The funny, sarcastic, making jokes all the time, sometimes annoying Chandler Bing. Even though Chandler can sometimes be clingy, humorous, and sarcastic at the wrong times, he is always there to uplift his friend's moods and stick with them through difficult times. He has been a constant companion to his best friend, Joey, loaning him significant sums of money during his financial difficulties. He even went to the lengths of creating a fake game just to give Joey the money he needed. He has been a supportive, loyal best friend to his high-school friend, Ross. He has been a compassionate, attentive listener and emotional support to Pheobe and Rachel, helping them through their excessive relationships with guys. Last but not least, he has been a loving, devoted, supportive, and compassionate husband to his wife, Monica. With all his traits accumulated together, the stars have hand-picked a friend like Chandler Bing: one who is indubitably irreplaceable and one of a kind. Anyone would be eternally lucky to have someone like him in their life. 

Taurus

Social, Strong Minded, Stubborn (Sometimes)

What does it mean to be a friend? That question encompasses several meanings from all the zodiac relationships I have witnessed throughout my life, but what about me? Now it’s my turn; what does it mean for others to have me as a friend? I was born on a Friday night at 10:23 pm; what an ideal day and time for my social personality to bloom. My parents always joked that this was the reason for my extroverted personality, as someone who dislikes staying home in one place all day long. Even though I was an inherently a shy, little girl, my progression over the years has made me the confident friend I am today. As a young child, I often struggled between friends, not feeling a special connection to several of them. Gradually, I realized that neither of us was the problem; I just longed for something different. My strong-minded, stubborn personality led me to let go of several friendships and venture off to find my true place. 

Once I genuinely care for someone, there is no length that I would not cross for them unless and until trust is broken. I remember this one night when I was 16, and my friend had a mental breakdown at 1 am. I woke my mom up and pleaded with her to let me go to her house to comfort her. Within 15 minutes, I sat beside my friend in her bed as an emotional support. In the last 17 years, I have accustomed myself to a multitude of different friend groups and people, each of whom holds a special place in my heart, and each of whom I have learned something unique.

Gemini 

Caring, Optimistic, Loyal, Obsessed 

Charles Boyle, also known as Cousin Boyle or Chucklebunny, is the famous short, sweet, and loving character from the popular TV show Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is one of the leading detectives of the TV show; however, he is known to be clumsy and not the brightest of the lot. Despite this, he remains one of the most beloved. He is especially portrayed for his unconditional love, friendship, and support for Jake Peralta, the ultimate main character. The friendship between Jake and Charles, to a newbie of the show, may seem desperate, one-sided, and overly obsessed from Charles’ side; however, as the show progresses, it is proven just how much Jake requires a pillar like Charles in his life. Even though Charles can sometimes be extraordinarily over-protective and jealous of anyone else who enters Jake’s life, he has proven to always have his best interest at heart, helping Jake through every possible low point he has had and forgiving him through all his mistakes. 

Cancer

Devoted, Welcoming, Supportive, Rational

These are just a few snippets of things that have been said about the relationships between Cancers and Tarus’. I am 17 years old, and for the first time, I realized why my day 1, my lifelong chosen sister, my other half, and my most cherished friend is so dear to me. 

When I was 11, one of my friend groups formed. We all lived in the same condo, met each other every day, played downstairs for hours every evening, and slept over at each other’s houses. Just like any other friend group, certain relationships were stronger or weaker than others. However, Arya and I were never really that close. We were friends, but mainly due to being part of the same friend group. When I was 13, nearing 14, this friend group fell apart, but a new friendship emerged from it. The most unexpected, out-of-the-blue relationship. Arya and I became inseparable. When someone asks me what a friend is, I think, “Arya.” 

Through every panic moment that I have had because of school and life, every success that I have encountered, and every depressing day I have had, she has been my first call. I remember this one time, in particular, I had just won an award. I was on clouds that day, beyond excited, but there was someone standing next to me who was ten times more happy than me for my achievement. She was happier than my teachers, my siblings, and my parents. Neither of us can explain it, but the stars bonded us to meet and for the friend group to fall apart. What we share is beyond fathomable.

Leo 

Generous, loyal, dedicated, hardworking 

Jia Lakhamraju. Her world, personality, and qualities are just as unique as her last name. Jia is undoubtedly the most dedicated, hardworking, and motivated person I have ever met. 

As I was sitting in the cafeteria, I heard, "It's just a formative, why do you care?" someone said, and I thought to myself, "Well, that's true," but then Jia from the side said, "It's not about the grade, I want to actually understand the concept, do you want to work with me?"

"Wow, there is no way a 7th grader just said that," I thought to myself. 

Since that day, I have not witnessed a single occurrence where Jia has been different. She works extremely hard and encourages everyone around her to work harder. She is one of the most intelligent people I know, but also the most humble. She has helped me, sat with me, and offered her guidance through every problem that I have, not just academic but personal too. To every single one of her friends, she is someone they trust, value, and seek comfort in. 

As I sit in 11th-grade Biology class, unable to grasp the particular concept we had been learning, along with my mind swarming around a fight that I had gotten into with my mother, I feel a slight tap on my shoulder. "Come on, get up," Jia says. "But get up and go where? We still have 15 minutes left of class." I reply. "Don't worry about that; I already talked to the teacher, just come." 

I slowly lift from my seat, confused as to what's happening. I follow Jia to the booster booth, where she buys me my favorite chocolate. Not another word was said, but that was enough; it was all I needed. 

Virgo

Hardworking, Critics, Controlling, Independent 

Virgos are known to be some of the most hardworking people in the world. Their firing passions and desires lead them to be ambitious and career-oriented. Even though these extremely beneficial traits cause them success, they can lead to their downfall. Take Walter White, the main character from Breaking Bad, for example. Walter was unhappy and, deep down, miserable with his everyday life and job. He was frustrated with being poor, and hence, he decided to embark on a new path. He sought out a business that was illegal, yet high in income, and even though he had his family’s best intentions at heart, he compromised every single one of them in the process. He got various other strangers involved in his operation, all of whom he didn’t treat fairly, especially Jessie. Jessie is Walters, the so-called “business partner” in the show. However, Walter never saw to this. He constantly sought control over Jessie, ordering him around, criticizing his every decision, and prioritizing himself every single time. Jessie was constantly frustrated, yet kept up with this and supported Walter through all his decisions. 

There are certain exquisite traits that are possessed in a Virgo; however, their areas of weakness drag them to the ground, causing destruction and conflict.

Libra 

Irritation, Dependency, Laziness

Will Smith, Serena Williams, and Bruce Springsteen are all famous and easily recognizable names, right? When you first hear these names, you think, "Wow, these are significant figures, all of whom are extremely hardworking and successful." 

Well, you're not wrong; some of the most hardworking people can be Libras; on the other hand, some of the laziest people are also, well, Libras. 

I've never particularly been close friends with a Libra, but I did have a classmate who happened to be in both my 10th and 11th grade science class. Coincidentally, or internally by the teacher, I'm not sure, but somehow, I managed to be either in a group or partnered with this classmate for roughly 60-70% of the year. 

The first project we did in 10th grade showed me our friendship. It was worth 15% of our overall grade, and I HAD TO do well. We divided our responsibilities, just like any partnership, and set deadlines and goals. 

When the day for the first deadline arrived, he said, "I didn't do it, but I will."

I was slightly annoyed, but I let it go easy as it was only the first deadline, and we had two more to go until we had to turn in the project.

The second deadline came, "I completely forgot; I promise I'll have it done by the due date."

I was starting to get worried, but I still gave him the benefit of the doubt, considering we had one week left. 

Three days before the deadline, I messaged him, saying, "Hey, just a friendly reminder, please get the project done." 

No response. 

The night before the project, I went in to finalize the documents and saw his entire half empty, blank, not a single word written there. I went into panic mode. It was the last day before the due date, and nothing was there. 

I tried to scrap together and do everything I could from his work, yet it was still incomplete. We got a B on that project. 

Scorpio

Loyal, Empathetic, Stubborn, Guarded 

We all tend to have good and bad days. Happy and sad days. Stressed and Relaxed Days. Busy and Free Days. Well, my friendship with Tara has been somewhat like this. It is ever-changing and never really defined or set in stone. We have had some moments where we are closer than ever. Being the only two girls in a friend group with eight guys bonded us instantly. Well, obviously, that’s not ironic at all. However, despite this, our friendship has had its fair share of turbulence. Tara and I have always been extremely similar in personality. We like the same clothes, eat the same food, enjoy the same TV shows, and while this has helped our friendship bloom, it has also caused our conflicts. I remember when we both set our eyes on the same piece of clothing in the store. It was obvious that both of us wanted it, but given that we were both strong-minded and stubborn, neither wanted to let it go. The conclusion to that story is long and well for another time!

She is the friend with whom I have had the most rollercoaster journeys and the most conflicted days, but through it all, we come out stronger every time. 

Sagittarius

Highly Devoted, Upfront, Honest

"Yeah, you got to start over," Megan said bluntly. "WHAT, like entirely start over?" I replied.

I had been brainstorming ideas and writing down paragraphs for my project last night, and now she is telling me to start from scratch. 

"But, but, What's wrong with it?" "WHY?" I said, shocked. 

"Your idea is flawless, but your writing doesn't portray the real you." "Come on, you yourself know this could be a lot better; just be yourself," Megan replied. 

I went home that night with a heavy burden on my shoulders, not knowing what to do about this writing piece, how to string it together, and how to make my ideas work. Despite this, I felt encouraged, as if I had to prove something. I sat by my window, tuned in to my music, and entered my zone. I worked and worked without even realizing 3 hours had gone by without a single break. I stretch and glimpse my new piece, "wow, this is a lot better." I think to myself. I proceeded to get an A on that paper, all thanks to Megan and herMegan's dose of reality. Thank you, Megan. 

Friendships, just like the celestial bonds that form in the sky, lay the path of our lives. Over the last 17 years, each of my friendships has been ever-evolving, diverse, and unique. Each person forges a different connection, a different bond, and a different sense of belonging. Each zodiac sign creates a distinctive character in my life. In this zodiac journey, I am appreciative, happy, fortunate, and forever grateful.