“We’ll always be friends.” Lies from the deepest pits of the earth and yes, I told them too. I’m pretty sure I signed that exact line in more than one person’s yearbook and slumbook. (If you didn’t have a slumbook, were you even in secondary school?)

By the time you’re in your senior year, you’re convinced the people around you are your soulmates in friendship form. You cry together on Val’s Day, share snacks in exam halls, sneak around boarding school rules, and help each other hide phones from eagle-eyed teachers. Every clique swore it would never break up. Ever.

At that point, it felt like you had found your forever tribe.

Then, Life Started Lifing…

Fast forward five years and you’re scrolling through Instagram like:

“Wait, when did she get married?”

“Isn’t that the girl from boarding school? When did she give birth?”

“When did he get to Canada?”

Even more confusing? I once saw a tweet that said your truest, purest friends are the ones you meet in high school. And maybe that’s true for some, so I decided to ask around:

Do high school friendships actually survive the real world?

Real People, Real Experiences

“We were best friends but we drifted apart.” — Tols

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“We were inseparable. People swore we’d stay close forever. But after graduation, we couldn’t keep up.

We're cool, though. We exchange birthday messages and laugh at each other’s snaps. Still, it’s weird how we were once the same person.”

“She ghosted me.” — Didi

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“Everything was fine until one day, she just removed me from all her socials. Stopped talking to me. Last I heard, she was dating my ex. So yeah… good riddance.”

“We had a group chat.” — Chris

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“We created a group chat to keep in touch, but the messages slowly faded. Fewer check-ins. More silence. Then it just died.”

“We keep streaks and talk once in a while.” — Ajanikoko

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“Most people moved on. Some reconnected, but now we mostly keep Snapchat streaks, talk once in a while, and help each other out if we can.”

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What Happened? Nothing Dramatic.

It’s rarely a fight. Just life.

One person got busy. The other forgot to reply to a message. Then silence.

Then occasional Instagram likes and snaps. Then… nothing.

Many people I spoke to mentioned how their Class of 20-whatever WhatsApp groups slowly became dumping grounds for forwarded “Good morning” messages, crypto Ponzi schemes, and wedding invites from people you didn’t even know were in relationships.

So Why Don’t Most Friendships Last?

Honestly? People change.

As you grow, you start gravitating towards people who match your current energy, your current struggles, values, and vibes. Not everyone you laughed with in biology class will grow with you into adulthood. And that’s okay.

Also, life isn’t gentle. College will humble you. Japa will scatter group chats.

Adulting will snatch your free time. Some friendships simply can’t survive the silence.

But Surprisingly, Some Friendships Do Survive

“We’re still friends!” — Ada

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“We never stopped being friends — we’re actually closer now. It took effort, sacrifice, and the willingness to show up for each other, even when life got busy. We chose to stay. And I’m grateful.”

“We weren’t even close in school, but now we’re best friends.” — Mr Pinkwhistle

Photo Credit- Kosi Chuks

“We were just casual schoolmates, but after graduation, we reconnected. It was unexpected but so wholesome. We’re tight now.”

These friendships survived not because of luck but because of effort. The kind where you check in even when you’re tired, send birthday voice notes, and show up when it matters.

So… Do High School Friendships Last?

The honest answer? Sometimes.

They last when both people grow in the same direction or at least commit to reaching out, staying present, and being intentional.

They last when people drop their pride and just text first. When you stop keeping score about who reached out last. When you show up even when it’s not convenient.

Like Ada said, it takes effort and it takes sacrifice. But it’s worth it.

That said, some friendships are only meant for a season. And that doesn’t make them failures. They gave us laughter, support, exam answers (iykyk), and memories that still make us smile today. And that’s enough.

I had friends who covered for me when I dozed off in Math class, so I wouldn’t get caught. Support systems, truly.

In Conclusion

If your high school friends are still in your life? Hold them close. Send that “Yooo remember when...?” message. Don’t let birthdays or check-ins pass you by.

And if they’ve faded from your life? That’s fine too. Life changes. People evolve.

So while you're still in the middle of it, laugh together, share memes, watch Norbit, and randomly yell “Norbit, I’m with child!” at your friends. Soak up every bit of it. Because after high school, life becomes unpredictable and so do the friendships you walk away with.

Some will stay. Some will fade. And some will become the friends we lost along the way.

And that’s okay. Just remember:

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed".

-Khalil Gibran

Did your high school friendships survive? Still in touch or ghosted into silence? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear your story.