Since I start orientation at Arcadia University this week, I thought I’d write a letter to my friends as they leave, or already have left, for college.

Dear friends,

Let me start off by saying I’m going to miss you all dearly. I met most of you throughout high school and we got much closer senior year.

All of you made me feel like I could be myself. In freshman year I barely spoke to anyone because I was afraid anything I said would be used to bully me. After that didn’t happen, I knew I found the right friend group after searching for over five years.

You all helped me change from a self-conscious, pessimistic person to an expressive, helpful friend. You helped me thrive in high school and I don’t know where I would be without you. You saved me from my own depressing self and I cannot thank you enough. Now that I’ve said how much you mean to me, I want you to know that I’m here for you.

To all of my friends who are staying relatively close to home, I’m going to be commuting to college everyday. As such, I’ll have access to a car at all times. If you ever need me, I can be there ASAP no matter what, even if you think it is the silliest thing. To the friends a little further away from home, I’m only a Skype or phone call away.

If any of you need me to be a wall as you rant, give you any helpful advice, help you with school work, or to help you in some financial emergency: you got it. You deserve at least this much for all that you have done for me, even without knowing it.

To end this, I just want to say good luck to all of you as you go off on your new adventures, I know you’ll all do great; and know that my home is always open for you.

Love,
Your dear friend Kate