Dear 2016,

As I look back on the year that quickly flew by, I realize that it has been one of the greatest so far. You challenged me in ways that helped me grow and gave me some of my favorite moments. You also gave me some hardships that at the time seemed too daunting to get through, but I did and came out stronger because of it.

I started the year filled with uncertainty of where I would eventually end up for school and everything that would come with that decision. 2016 was a yer filled with change and the need to be okay with how much change I was going through. Instead of spending time in a suburb of a major Ohio city, I now spend most of the year living in the middle of nowhere Indiana, where the closest Panda Express is 45 minutes away. With all of the changes came many upsides. I met my roommate who is now one of my best friends and I couldn't imagine anyone else being by my side to tackle freshman year with. I also started my college lacrosse career with the fall ball season and can't wait to start the actual season.

You also gave me some of my favorite memories, whether it was with my friends, my family or it was a personal achievement. I celebrated various senior nights, graduated high school and began my college adventure. I was also stranded at and amusement park with some of my closest friends the day before my birthday, which doesn't sound like the greatest thing to happen but that is a night I'll be grateful for in the years to come. I was also able to come home a few times and spend precious time with my family that I didn't realize I would miss as much as I did.

You also brought it's hardships in different forms. Whether it was learning to live with the distance that I created when leaving for college and the homesickness that came with it or learning that not everyone is going to like me and that it would be okay in the end. I also dealt with a lot of adversity during my sports season and I had to learn to cope with everything happening there. Needless to say I grew a lot from everything happening in my personal life.

So I just want to say thank you 2016 for being a pretty good year. I cannot wait for what 2017 will bring as you come to an end and I cannot wait to ring in 2017 in just one short week.