Growing up, they said that college would be the best four years of my life, and my goodness were they right. I haven’t even fully committed to the “real world," as I’m in grad school at a different place than my alma mater, but I think it’s safe to assume that nothing will ever compare. Don’t get me wrong -- life outside of that university isn’t something to not look forward to, but it just isn’t the same, and I know it never will be. I know this because never again will we all live within a three-mile radius of each other, and never again will the stressors of “real life” not play a part.

I think of all of you often. I’m so proud of all that you’ve accomplished and will continue to accomplish. For those of you still at our beloved university and for those of you who’ve moved to another time zone, I love having a window into your world and being able to watch what you’re doing with your education and your lives. I still can’t believe that time is moving so fast and one by one we are moving on to the next chapter in our lives. I remember all of the times we’ve spent together at the place we all met (and all the places we traveled), and I’m so thankful.

Before all of you walked into my life I was an “I," but after you welcomed me into your circle, I quickly became part of a “we." My life went from what am “I” going to do, to what are “we” going to do? This weekend? This summer? For New Years? When’s our Christmas party? That’s something I had never experienced before college, and it’s not something I’ll be experiencing after, either. You gave me a nickname and invited me out, and, as a result, my 19-year-old self was no longer homesick. You became my home away from home, and you still are.

I was so shy coming into college; I’d been left out of things as a kid and in high school like many others, so finding you all was more important to me than you can imagine. My first semester of college I listened to everyone else having fun with their friends, and when I met you second semester, I became one of them. By the end of freshman year I was skipping down the street in Salt Lake City yelling, “hello governor” in an English accent wondering how I got so lucky to have friends that made me laugh so much.

My sophomore year I had a really tough time -- none of you knew when it was happening, and some of you still might not know. Nevertheless, you gave me an out just by being there. When I walked into a party we were having and everyone yelled my name as I walked into the door, you were doing so much more for me than just saying hello. You made my heart smile when it was hurting, and you continued to do that throughout my time at school. You cried with me in stairwells and laughed with me on dance floors, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

By junior year I was all of a sudden turning 21. My birthday was a Thursday and I didn’t make a big deal about it; I just mentioned what bar I was going to. Then the day came and you were all there (well, the of-age ones). You videotaped me like real friends do and made sure I made it home. You were prepared to hold my hair back; it turns out I just fell asleep next to the toilet, but you were ready and willing. Then senior year spring break came and some of us ended up in Fort Lauderdale. We didn’t all go in the same group, but we ended up seeing each other anyway. I was so happy to see your faces in a place so far away from home. I didn’t even have to say “hello." I walked right into your arms and started listening to all that you’d encountered since the last time we’d seen each other. I’ve learned that the real friends don’t require a “hello," they begin with a “let’s go”…and I love that.

I’ve also learned that your real friends are the weirdest friends you will ever have. Freshman year we listened to “I Fink You Freaky” and never looked back. By senior year I’d never seen so many grown men twerk at one time and have it be a normal occurrence in my day. I welcomed my place to you with open arms, and you stole the carrots out of my fridge and passed out on my couch in a pink onesie at one in the afternoon... and I loved every second of it.

Senior year was bittersweet. My eyes welled several times knowing that I’d never be together like that with you all ever again. I’d never find a group of friends that loved me no matter what, friends who would tell me the hard stuff and lift me up when I was down. Never again would we roll into a party together and be the party, and then all pass out in one hotel room when we had paid for five.

I had to give a presentation about myself for orientation into my grad school program, and among my pictures I had one with all of us together. I mentioned that you were my home away from home and then looked into a crowd of blank faces. At that moment I realized that our era was over and I was on my own again. I’ve adjusted just fine, but I wouldn’t have been able to if it hadn’t been for my experiences with each and every one of you. For that, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m sorry I don’t visit as much as I said I would, as the “real world” has occupied every moment of my time. I cherish all of our time spent together and have my senior gift on my desk. I hope to see some of you soon, and if not…thank you for being you, and thank you for turning my “I” into a “we," even if it was for just a little while.