Four years ago, I came to this campus as a naive freshman searching to find myself and who I would become in the future.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama was in a lot of ways what I expected it to be: the high energy football games, the insane nightlife, and the endless opportunities for students. However, it ended up being so much more to me. Tuscaloosa truly became my home. A place I felt comfortable and a place that's grown to always hold a special spot in my heart.
Tuscaloosa is more than just a campus full of football fanatics, although 'roll tide' will always be an acceptable response to any statement or question. The professors I've had the pleasure to get to know have helped me so much inside and out the classroom. I've had several go out of their way to make sure I was ready for life after graduation and who showed a genuine interest in my life. I've learned more in four years here than most learn in a lifetime.
I'll miss you, Tuscaloosa. I'll miss yelling the adlibs to "Dixieland Delight" with hundreds of my closest friends. I'll miss the instant connection you make with someone that shares your equal hatred of that cow university in Auburn. I'll miss the way you look on rainy days. I'll miss the steps of Reese Phifer. I'll miss the sound of the perfectly synchronized shakers in the crisp air of fall Saturday nights in Bryant-Denny.
I'll never forget the people I've met here. I'll never forget that national championship game against Clemson when Kenyan Drake returned that kickoff 95 yards for a TD. I'll never forget when a professor asked me to office hours to go over my post-graduation plans and take the time to tell me he believed I would do great things in the future. I'll never forget how beautiful Denny Chimes looked in the 2014 'snowpocalypse.' I'll never forget how you shaped me into a person I'm proud to be, Tuscaloosa.
So, farewell, Tuscaloosa. It has been a hell of a four years, my proudest accomplishment. Although I'll miss you like hell, I take comfort in knowing I'll always be able to find my way back. Until next time,
Roll Tide, forever.
