To me, I was a new girl who was living in the same suite as you. To you, I was a new friend. To me, I didn't belong. To you, I couldn't fit in more perfectly.
A list of thank you's for the people who took me in and loved me even though I was the new girl:
1. Thank You for Taking Me In
In the beginning there were a lot of lonely nights in my dorm spent trying to get the courage to get up and make friends. But thank you for turning those lonely nights into long talks and empty boxes of Chinese food. I didn't believe I was going to be friends with you guys to be honest. I didn't believe you wanted to be friends with me. But you did and I am forever grateful for that. I never believed I would belong anywhere, especially as a new student coming into a school where you already had each other. But thank you, I do not know where I would have gone if I couldn't go to you.
2. Thank You For Teasing Me
You're not really part of a family until they can make fun of you. Thank you for calling me weird and questioning the awkward things I say. Thank you for making fun of the fact that I mix peanut butter and yogurt and that I will never call our cafeteria by it's correct name. I now know I don't have to swipe into every building on campus and that I need to keep better track of my ID card.
3. Thank You Letting Me Be Mad
Thank you for letting me be frustrated and not have to hide it from you.Thank you for letting me be genuinely pissed off and for knowing exactly what to do: leave me alone until I want to talk about it. It's hard to fit in with people who have never seen your worst side, thank you for seeing the worst bits of me but loving me anyway.
4. Thank You For The Laughter
As a new person, it's hard to find times to relax and unwind, but with you it's easy. You made me hysterically laugh over the stories you told, and any time I felt left out, you reminded me that I am part of your new stories. I will never forget the tears of laughter after the stupid videos we watched or anytime we acted much younger than we really are.
5. Thank You For Believing in Me
At home, mom and dad were the only people who told me I could do it. That I was capable of anything. But you all forced me to believe in myself and that I belonged at college when there were so many times I believed I didn't. There are still a lot of times where I feel like I don't deserve what I have, but thank you for reminding me that I do.
I hope I have made as much of an impact on you as you have on me. I don't know what I would have done or who I would have been without you all surrounding me with tough and unconditional love. Thank you for reminding me what friendship is and thank you for not only being my first semester friends, but my college family. I look forward to the long nights and crazy stories ahead of us.
