To my 6VTeam,
We’re lucky. We somehow wound up living in the same hall and formed a close niche of friends who are surprisingly different from one another. We’re from different states, have different passions, hold different beliefs, belong to different social circles and sororities; yet, we blend into a family whose ongoing closeness seems to surprise everyone. We all bring different qualities to the group that foster those qualities in each other and help to bring out the best in one another. It’s been over two years since we all met, and we’re still just as close as we were freshman year. You really are my people.
Though I didn’t become part of your group until second semester, you welcomed me in with open arms and submerged me in your fun and laughter. It was my GET RID OF MY our friendship that made me finally feel at home at Michigan. I was struggling to find a place at school where I felt wanted and comfortable being me and you provided me with just that. You provided me with the less serious, less critical environment I desperately needed at a time that was undeniably hard for me. You all showed me what it’s like to embrace your QUIRKINESS quorkiness and care more about what you think about yourself and less what others think about you despite the societal pressures we all felt. You showed me what real fun in college was like.
You’ve all watchED me grow as a person more in the past two years than throughout my ENTIRE high school career. You’ve created unforgettable memories with me, you’ve shared new experiences with me, you’ve survived game days with me, you’ve danced on ledges with me despite how off rhythm you knew I was; you’ve cried with me, you’ve laughed with me, you’ve laughed at me, you’ve shared your secrets with me and you’ve held on to mine.
To Alexa: thank you for being my rock, the person with WHOM which I have no boundaries and the one is WHO IS genuinely interested in every intimate detail of my life I share with, no matter how insignificant or absurd it may be. Thank you for being the only person who knows exactly how to deal with my SOMETIMES unstable temperament and put me in my place when I need to be put there. I have never had a friend as loyal and true as you are to me and I am so truly thankful for you.
To Emilie: thank you for bringing out my creative and silly side. Thank you making me laugh again and again until I can’t breath. Thank you for trying to understand me when I don’t even understand myself. Thank you for letting me sit for hours on your bean bag chair and let me watch you draw. And mostly, thank you for being you and teaching me how to love myself.
To Elise: thank you for making me smile no matter what mood I’m in. Thank you for teaching me positivity and happiness. Thank you for giving the best hugs and for all the snuggles and long talks. Thank you for attempting to teach me how to dance and for making me break down at parties.
To Shir: thank you for being blunt with me and telling me how it is. Thank you for teaching me how to get free starbucks and literally carrying me on your back when I needed some help getting home. Thank you for making me nachos after darties and sneaking into the Landmark gym with me. Thank you for all the hangout sessions that I love so much.
To Grace: Thank you for showing me how to balance school work and fun. Thank you for your humour and the clever groupme gifs. Thank you for the ration advice and the sensible answers. Thank you for providing the best pictures of your dog that always make me smile.
To Sam: thank you for all the random stories and your great sense of humor. Thank you for showing me how to laugh at myself even more than I already did and for always being supportive. Thank you for always sharing your nature box and exploring the holy land with me.
To Syd: Thank you for embracing our group when you moved in with Alexa. Thank you for being so friendly and so fun loving. Thank you for helping with Stats even when you had a million other classes to do work for.
Not every college student is lucky enough to meet the best friends they keep all four years of college, and beyond, in their freshman year dorm; but I can say I am. I can’t wait for the future adventures we have already begun planning and the house we will share senior year. You all are my family, my home away from home.
