Dear best friends,

Well, here we are. It’s junior year, and it still isn’t easier going to school in three different states. Whoever told us that it wouldn’t hurt less to say goodbye every time is such a liar. As we mark our milestone of being halfway done with college, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on how you both have managed to stay a constant priority in my life. While I miss you guys more and more every single day, there’s a lot of things that put my heart at ease about you both.

First and most importantly, you guys are KILLING it. I am constantly blown away by all of your academic, athletic, and social accomplishments. It is wild to me that you guys have created such amazing lives in scary, new situations away from home, and you literally own them. You haven’t just planted yourselves somewhere new, you’ve planted yourselves and you’ve grown.

Second, as I mentioned, it gets harder every day I don’t get to see you guys, but it comforts me knowing you have your own new friends and lives. I am so glad you both have your people who get to sub in for me when we aren’t a couple minutes away from each other. You both spread love, positivity, and joy to everyone you meet, and I am so happy new people get to realize your qualities I love most.

Third, you have both become incredible, independent, strong women that you never would have been able to blossom into without leaving home. While it pains my little hear to not be able to see you both 24/7 anymore, I understand, love, and support your choices to flourish exactly where you are. Both of you have changed in so many perfect ways, and you’ve become ladies I am so proud to know. You’ve taken who you were in high school, learned from some mistakes, and developed your gorgeous qualities.

Through all these crazy changes and new experiences, the thing that gives me the most comfort is knowing who I’m coming home to see. You both make up the two halves of my heart, and you’ve given me the confidence to thrive up here in good ol’ Eugene, Oregon. You are my biggest support system, craziest fan club, and best influences, even from hundreds of miles away. Thank you for molding my personality into someone I am so proud to be. I miss you both more than words could ever describe, but as always, I’m just a group text, a phone call, and a FaceTime away.

XO,

Soph