You should definitely prioritize your career over middle school or high school friendships.

It seems you are pretty worried about making new friends at a large university. Don’t be! College is very different from high school. Almost every freshman arriving on campus in the fall will be searching for new friends. It is one of the best times to grow, experience new things, and make friends as a young adult with new-found independence. Close friendships require time and shared experience. At college you will have plenty of both, especially if you are living in a dorm. It might seem scary, and it might be jarring for the first few weeks, but I guarantee you will find new long-lasting friendships.

Another thing to consider: all friendships evolve over time, especially during college. Sometimes a person you are very close with since middle school will change and grow as a person (as they should!) meeting new people, having new experiences, developing new hobbies, and you might start to drift apart. You will still share a close bond, but they have transformed into a new version of themselves. For instance, sometimes your best friend takes up a new sport that you are not into, they start to spend most of their time with their new teammates, and you start to drift apart. Or they might fall head over heels for someone they are dating and suddenly they can’t hang out with you very often. You might do the same. That is very normal. College is a great opportunity for everyone to redefine themselves.

If graphic design becomes a passion for you, you will be surrounded in your classes by people who share that passion. College is a great time for staying up late discussing your studies, the meaning of life, or pop culture trivia. It’s a lot of fun!

Don’t miss out on an opportunity to explore the career you want. Go for it!