To my friends from home:

Last summer was filled with beach trips, music festivals, big memories, and bittersweet goodbyes. We had spent years of our lives together, not worried about actually parting ways until last summer. When we came back together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, we saw how much we all grew as individuals and how easy it was for us to come back together and pick up right where we left off. Funny memories were retold, new college stories were shared, and lots of hugs went around as we savored our little piece of heaven- being back together again.

This summer was no different. We had dinner dates, dance parties in the car, Bachelor viewing parties, and too many ice cream trips. This summer was a little more bittersweet though. Last summer, we knew we'd all come back for another summer together. This summer, the promise is not quite the same. Next summer has promises of studying abroad, new jobs/internships in big cities, or on-campus jobs that won't allow some to return home. So this summer, in a sense, was really our last summer where we all were together, and that is special.

So, thank you. Thank you for reminding me of who I am. Who I was before I went to college, and who I will be long after. Thank you for reminding me how to laugh so hard my stomach hurts and for teaching me how some people can feel like home. Thank you for bringing up all the old stories that I almost started to forget. Thank you for loving me unconditionally and for being the best part about coming home. Thank you for being beautiful people. I can't wait for the next time we will all be together again.

A lot of people say that they found "their people" in college. I was lucky enough to have found my people in high school. My college friends are like family too, don't get me wrong, but they weren't there for the awkward phases, the braces, and the twilight obsession. They weren't there for prom, pep rallies, and the boy drama of high school. You were. So thanks for sticking around then and long after. I can't wait until the day we get all of our kids together and tell them all of our dumb stories. They probably won't care, but we will.

I'll love you forever,

KT