If you were once one of those kids who had (or still have) an imaginary friend, I can assure you you’re not alone. Recent studies have shown that 65% of children said they had an imaginary friend at some point before the age of seven.

There are many misconceptions about children who have had imaginary friends. Some may see it as strange, unhealthy or a sign of social issues. However in most cases this is far from the truth.

It usually isn’t a sign of any mental or social in capabilities either. In fact, it’s often times a sign that the child has an above average ability to conjure original and abstract thoughts. “An elaborate fantasy world is like a test lab for some of the most important childhood skills,” claimed “The Real Reasons Why Kids Make Imaginary Friends” (www.babble.com).

Senior Peter McLeod, who is known for his love for learning, spent much of his childhood inventing complex characters with unique physical features and personalities. Cosmo, his primary imaginary friend, was “a six year old’s dream come true.” Mcleod described his friend as the king of the galaxy and a Jedi alien with two mouths, six eyes, and eight blades attached to his body.

Katelyn Sommers, a sophomore, also imagined a friend with mythical characteristics. The Purple Guy was envisioned as a tall, round, purple creature with horns on his head.  “He was nice. We played basketball,” Sommers said.

Up until around six years old Cheyenne Culp, who is now a junior, played with her imaginary friend named Sierra. “We always played [Mall Madness] together. She always won because she was mean to me,” Culp said. Unlike Cosmo and The Purple Guy, Sierra was visualized as an average-looking little girl with blonde hair.

Sometimes children don’t actually visualize their imaginary friends. Sophomore Seth Wolfe brought his invisible friend “Dooga” with him everywhere he went as a little boy. “There wasn’t a face to it. Might have been a girl, might have been a dude. I don’t even know,” Wolfe said. For about two years Dooga had it’s own chair at the dinner table and always was buckled in before car rides and tucked in before bed. “My mom just let it be because she was cool,” Wolfe said.

Eventually childhood fades away and more often than not the fantasies do too. Is it possible as an adult to have a firm grasp on reality while having a limitless imagination and thirst for adventure?  As the brilliant Spongebob Squarepants once said, “When you use your imagination you can do anything.”