Spring finals are upon us. That means all nighters, stress eating, regretting the little preparation you have made in the past 3 months, and probably shedding a few tears. It also means that the semester is over. Pack your bags because its time to go home for the summer. Friends part ways for a few months until fall term, except for those who do not come back. Graduation is also upon us. Graduation is something I have come to mostly despise. Graduation has taken me from my friends in the past, and this year it will take some of my closest friends away from me.

My dear friend,

You did it. You are graduating and I could not be more proud of you. All of the sleepless nights, the tears, the stress, and the money were worth it. And we had some awesome times together. Sleepless nights were better spent together, we got each other through the tears and the stress, and we spent a lot of money on food. We took trips, took hikes, had sleepovers, joined clubs, made friendships that will literally last forever, and laughed more times than we can count.

You are graduating. You will enter the "real world" and I know that you will rock it because that is what you do. Nothing will stand in your way. You will get the job. You will have the place. You will be okay. You have made it this far and it took a heck of a lot of strength, perseverance, faith, coffee, and dedication to get here. There is no doubt in my mind that you will be even greater in this big world we live in. You will change lives. You will move mountains. You will spend time with family and friends and love will pour out of you and surround you.

But you are also leaving me, and as selfish as it is , I'm not at all okay with it. I am not graduating. I will return to college as normal next semester except things will not be normal because you will not be here with me.

I know that our friendship is eternal. We will still talk all the time. We will text, call, skype, Snapchat, and like every single picture of each others on Instagram. (an upside to social media) But we both know that things will not be the same. I can't sleep in your room anytime I want or need to. We can't randomly make popcorn at 2:00 AM just because. You won't be here to hug me or dance around the living room to cheer me up. Things will be different and I already don't like it. I am being selfish and I will be the first one to admit it. But you have to understand that when someone as great as you leaves, it is not going to be easy for anyone.

You have changed my life. Think about that. You changed someone's life. And for the better. I do not know how I would have gotten through the hard nights without you. I would not have wanted to go through the fun nights without you, because you made them fun. You added so much to this life for me. I thank God for you all the time; I always will. I pray that I did the same for you.

But I wouldn't change things if I could, because I know that this is what is best for you, and I know how much this means to you. We will still talk, we will still adventure, just differently. Maybe this coming chapter of our lives will be even more fun than the last. Maybe you will get a job on campus and move in with me. (I can dream, can't I?) But the bottom line is, you are going to do great things with your life. God will be there for you and so will I. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for you and for us. Go show the rest of the world how great you are, but please remember to save just a little bit for me, because I'm not quite sure how I am going to make it without you.

Run up on that stage and get your diploma, you earned it and you deserve it.

I am so proud of you and I love you always.

Love,

Your proud, scared, sad, happy, loving, beaming, friend.