It is the second week of April, and I am less than a month away from my last day of school. My first year at college is almost complete and it is bittersweet. I will soon be free of studying, exams, and homework and will be able to see my family and welcome sleep, the beach, and sun. At the same time, I will be away from my closest friends, 3 a.m. conversations, and endless memories. As finals week grows closer, I can't help but reminisce on my first year of college, and while I welcome the summer, I want to say goodbye and thank you to this year.
Goodbye to the acquaintances and friends that I made, to the friendships that didn't last through the year, and to the friends that I will welcome with open arms in August. But thank you for teaching me the importance of friends and that not all friendships work out, and that it's OK.
Goodbye to homework-induced anxiety, sleepless nights, 1 a.m fire alarms, and 8:30 and 9 a.m. classes. But thank you to my homework-induced anxiety, because without you, I wouldn't have learned how to better manage my time. Thank you to the sleepless nights that made me value naps, or how to roll over and force myself to get more sleep. Thank you to the fire alarms that taught me how to dress quickly (which came in handy for my 8:30 and 9 a.m. classes). Thank you to my 8:30 and 9 a.m. classes for forcing me to become a morning person (and strengthening my coffee dependency) and how to make the most of my day.
Goodbye to 10-page papers, 15- to 20-minute presentations, confusing group projects, and painful reading assignments. As much as I hated doing these assignments, I'm glad I had them because I became a better student; I learned to prioritize, manage my time, remember the importance of my education, and also put things in perspective. Without my group projects, I wouldn't have some of my acquaintances and friends, and I probably would still hate working in groups. Now, I look forward to group projects and meeting new people. So thank you to those awful assignments, for making me a better student and creating friendships, but I still don't want you next year.
This next month will be very bittersweet because I know I will miss my friends. I currently room with my best friend, and I don't know how I am going to get through the days without coming "home" to her and telling her all of the nonsense of my day, making ice-cream runs at 10 p.m., making the beautiful decision to get a second dinner, or watching "Bates Motel" to avoid our responsibilities. She is one of the best things I have gained from my first year; she helped me through my breakup and makeup, through sickness (and health), through my anxiety, and everything in between.
As much as I want this semester to end so I can spend my summer relaxing with my family, I don't want this year to end. My first year has made me become a better person; I became independent, confident, and determined. I know that my sophomore year will help me grow even more and that it will hold its own memories and lessons, but part of me isn't ready to grow up that much. I am already an adult, and I am growing closer and closer to graduation, which means I will soon be thrown into the "real world," but I'm not ready for that. Part of me wants sleepless nights filled with ridiculous reading assignments and papers, because, with that, I get to still be a kid with late-night pizza runs, Netflix, and homework sessions with my closest friends.
Freshman year, I'm not quite ready to let you go. Summer, I am ready for you. Sophomore year, I'm ready to see what adventures you hold for me.
I'm ready to discover who I will be this time next year, but I know I wouldn't be the same person without this year. This year has been a roller coaster, but I am so thankful for it and all those who were on that ride with me.
So goodbye, freshman year, and thank you.