Dear Alabama,

Thank you. Thank you for everything. Somehow those two words don’t even seem to do justice to how I feel. As the semester flies by, the fact that I am graduating starts to become more and more real. I am about to be a real adult, have a real job, have real responsibilities and leave my college days behind. Where did these past four years go?

Thank you, Alabama.

Thank you for the amazing teachers that have helped and supported me in pursuing my degree.

Thank you for Saturdays in the fall filled with the best damn college football in the world.

Thank you for getting me out of comfort zone and challenging me to take risks.

Thank you for my sorority where I have the most amazing sisters that I know will always be there for me.

Thank you for the people who are going to be my lifelong best friends.

Thank you for the weekend nights that I will never remember, filled with laughter and dancing and fun.

Thank you for teaching me to be independent, strong and confident.

Thank you for helping me realize the importance of family and that my parents are actually the coolest people ever.

Thank you for sunny days, long walks and deep conversations with my best friends.

Thank you for the tough life lessons that have helped me grow into the kind of person I want to be.

Thank you for my first real love.

Thank you for giving me a place I can always come home to.

Thank you, Alabama.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Winnie the Pooh.