For many college students, the decision to go out or stay in is a struggle—but for one group of friends, it turned into a wholesome viral moment.
Lyndsey Hillenbrandt, 21, had originally planned to sit out a night of fun with her roommates. However, she changed her mind and used the moment she got dressed to surprise her friends, capturing their jumps for joy and screaming in a viral TikTok. Hillenbrandt told Newsweek about what led her to spend the night with her friends, and what it has meant to her to find such a close friendship group in college.
Hillenbrandt said she had been on a night out with her friend Morgan the evening before and still wasn't feeling great when their other roommate, Ari, arrived back at school ready to hit the town. Hillenbrandt promised to drive them but said she wouldn't be joining—until a sudden case of FOMO (fear of missing out) changed her mind.
"I was upstairs, and I heard them turn on the music and immediately knew I would have FOMO," Hillenbrandt said. "It's also the first week back, and classes had not started yet. I texted in our group chat, 'I'm resting my eyes for a bit before I drive you guys'—this was so they didn't come upstairs and see me getting ready. I then came downstairs and surprised them."
The TikTok video with over 9.2 million views captured the moment Hillenbrandt walked into the room fully dressed to go out, sparking over-the-top screams of excitement and jumping from her friends. While some commenters questioned whether the reactions were exaggerated or staged, Hillenbrandt said this is just how their friendship works.
"A lot of people were commenting that the reactions were over the top—but this is an everyday reaction from these girls," she said. "We have built an extremely close friendship, and little wins like this are celebrated in such magnitude often."
A Genuine Friendship
Hillenbrandt said she, Morgan, Ari, and their third roommate, Jess, are more than just housemates. They are also teammates on their college dance team and spend most of their days together.
"Even though we see each other all the time—between meals, practices and lounging at the house—I still never get sick of them," Hillenbrandt added.
For her, this kind of friendship wasn't always easy to find.
"Growing up, I know many girls struggle to form genuine relationships—including myself," Hillenbrandt said. "It wasn't until college that I really found people who were at my maturity level and who I clicked with immediately. Morgan and I met freshman year, and she introduced me to Ari and Jess. We've just been getting closer and closer ever since."
As the video continues to gain traction, Hillenbrandt is feeling even more grateful for her friendships.
"To feel so valued and wanted by your friends is something I hope everyone gets to experience in their life," she said. "I definitely thought their reactions were cute, but to see people reacting so positively and shocked by it made me even more grateful to have girls like them in my life."
English (US) ·