It's funny, because before I got to college I knew absolutely nothing about you.

Okay, well, that's not completely true. I knew your name and your face and the angle that you take your selfies from. I knew that you love purple and playing softball, and I knew that you're from some town called Ashdown. I didn't know, however, that within the span of several months, you were going to become one of my absolute best friends.

The first time I met you on move-in day I asked if I could hug you. I think we can both agree that was really weird on my part, but I was just so nervous and so excited that I really didn't know what else to do.The exact moment I had been stressing over for months- meeting the stranger I was going to be sharing approximately 250 square feet with for an entire year- was one of the most natural things I had ever experienced. It felt to be about hundred degrees outside and your dad was cracking jokes (as per usual) and our families exchanged salutations and shared typical small talk as we picked up our room keys.

I remember my parents and your aunt and dad rushing in and out of our bare and echo-y dorm room busying themselves, attempting to distract from the anxiety of our growing up that filled the room. We stood aside, simply clinging to their familiarity and observing as they worked together to set up our new home. When they finally packed up shop and left,a few many tears left in their wake, we were left alone for the first time since we had gotten there.

This is probably the most awkward part of the experience for most people. Family members leave and all that's left is a stranger on the other side of your room, blinking back at you and fighting to find any kind of conversation. With us, though, it was different. Your extroverted and talkative personality filled the silence, addressing me like an old friend from a past life. I instantly felt connected to you, like I had known you for years.

As the weeks progressed, I began to learn more about you: the way you hate how my dark, long hair sheds and ends up scattered all over the floor and your love for driving and napping pretty much anytime you're breathing. You began my love affair with running and you were always up for being a third wheel with Tyler and me, zero complaints. Regardless of how bad your day was, you always had a smile on your face and something incredibly corny to say.

I still laugh at the reactions we get when we have to tell people we were random roommates. Honestly, I don't even remember what life was like before I had you to send ugly Snapchats to or rant about how one of my professors spent three weeks solely on Haiku. Not once did you ever seriously yell or lose your temper with me, even after that one time I spilled hot pink nail polish all over our rug.

The fact of the matter is that you're one of the greatest friends I've ever had and during this past year we essentially grew up together. We stood beside each other as we rapidly morphed into two entirely new people.

So, I suppose this is a thank you. Thank you for never making me feel uncomfortable or like what I had to say didn't matter. Thank you for forcing me to break out of my introverted shell occasionally and for dealing with me on my moodiest of days. Thank you for volunteering with me and braving the crowds at Kroger to go grocery shopping with me. Thank you for making me laugh until I cry and for sitting on the floor and eating an entire pizza and two pints of Ben & Jerry's with me. Thank you for sharing a closet with me and running out of our dorm barefoot because I realized I forgot my notebook on the way to class. Thank you for being open and real with me from day one, and for always being the person I know will do anything for me, no questions asked. Thank you for always knocking me down a few pegs and building me up whenever I needed it.

Thank you, Shelbs, for being my other half. I can't wait to do it all again in three weeks.