Dear Freshman Year,

You're now coming to a close. You held many great memories, many obstacles, many lessons, a couple of sad times, new experiences, new friends, A LOT of swipes at the dining hall, many laughs, stress, and a sorority. You even led me to my best friends. I thank you for that. Without those best friends, freshman year wouldn't have been the same. You gave me the memories of a lifetime. I'm going to miss you, but not too much. ;)

I went through the first 18 years of my life believing I had everything figured out. All senior year (and maybe even all of high school—let's be real), I was ready to leave home and arrive at what would serve as my new home (although my mom will deny it over and over again) for the next nine months. Yet, once I got all settled into this "new home," something didn't feel right. This new place didn't feel like home at all. It felt like I was at summer camp for the first three months of college. Soon after, I began to miss my dogs and my family—something that I, an extremely independent 18 year old, never thought would happen. Eventually one Wednesday, in the middle of studying, I packed a small bag, jumped in my car, and drove all the way home.

I went through the first 18 years of my life dreaming about what college would be like. College was nothing like I had ever expected; it was confusing, it was complicated, it was breathtaking, it was quick. College shows you how little you've actually come and how far you still have to go. I've grown so much as a person this year, it's insane.

Coming into freshman year, I had a plan. I knew exactly what I was doing and where I was going to grad school. That sounds like the model student, right? For sure, until you realize after taking classes for your major that you realize that career path isn't at all what you want to do with your life, so you change your major, and then maybe you even change it again. Freshman year, you've taught me that change is okay, and it's normal. I've learned that I need to be flexible—and that I need to stop drinking so much iced coffee.

I went to my first college football game, my first college party, my first college basketball game, my first college homecoming; If you can't tell by now, freshman year, you've held a lot of firsts for me. Thank you.

Freshman year, you held my first birthday away from home, leaving me to spend it with all of my new friends. You've held big decisions for me: should I stay, should I leave, where do I go? You've challenged me in ways that I never thought possible; academically, emotionally, physically, and socially. Many of my nights have been spent in the library sipping on iced coffee to stay awake. Those nights will soon be over, and for me, that's bittersweet. College isn't like high school where all of your friends will still be in the same town as you; all of your friends live elsewhere. You leave a piece of your heart in your college town when you leave for summer. College has been coined as "the best four years of your life;" I can attest to that for sure. Freshman year was one of the best years of my life.

More importantly, you gave me my best friends. I met them in November, and my oh my, I can't thank you enough. They've been my rock, and I, theirs. They've cherished me, loved me, and endured those late nights studying with me. They've encouraged me, pushed me to be the best version of myself, and become my family. They're the people who will be in my wedding, and who I'll miss most when I'm not with them next year.

Looking back a year ago, I never would've thought that college would be like this. And quite frankly, that's okay. Finals are right around the corner and I may not be ready for you to end, but I'd just like to say this: Freshman year, you've exceeded my expectations and I thank you for a crazy, awesome, challenging, and amazing year.

So, goodbye dining halls, goodbye dorms, and goodbye freshman year. You've been very, very good to me.

Love,

A Freshman College Student