Dear First Semester Baes,

With all the stress and craziness out of the way now, with the first set of finals under our belts, and with all of us back in our cozy hometowns, I wanted to say thank you. The first semester can be scary, overwhelming, and an overall shit show without the right people by your side. I will hold a special place in my heart for those of you who stuck with me through the mental breakdowns, messy nights, late night adventures, and all the times I felt alone. The first semester really shows you how close you can get to someone in a three and a half month period, and how much you can learn about someone in a short amount of time. Going to college gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world which is truly an amazing thing. Friendships tracing from Kenya to Spain to Poland and all across the U.S. is something that everyone should appreciate for what it is worth. These connections could have never existed otherwise, and I feel so blessed for those of you who I now consider my some of my best friends who weren’t a part of my life six months ago. My life has been impacted by all of you in different ways.

College is a time of self exploration, new beginnings, and should be dedicated to bettering yourself each and everyday. I have met people that I hope and pray will be in my life forever and this is just the beginning. By listening to all of your stories, your past experiences, and your past travels, I am able to learn lessons about things that I, myself would not know without you. Never apologize for going on about your hometown that you think I don’t care about, never apologize for crying that you miss your best friend; tell me all about your mom’s cooking and the way your dad pronounces words funny and all the things your siblings do that drive you up the wall. Tell me anything and everything your heart desires because I want to listen. You have been there for me too many times to count and I hope you can say the same about me. Most of you know by now that my door is always open if you feel unsafe, my ears are always open if you need to talk, and that my heart is open if you are feeling unloved. But, by the off chance that you don’t know that, please understand I will be here for you always. I would not have been able to get through this first semester without you being by my side.

So thank you to my first semester friends. Thank you for sharing, thank you for teaching me that there are so many people I still have yet to meet that will change my life for the better. Thank you for showing me that there is so much I still have to see for myself and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives. Enjoy your time home with family and old friends this holiday season, and I cannot wait to see you next semester. Until then, much love always and don’t be afraid to shoot me a text or call.

Love,

Me