Well it’s that time a year again, but this year you won’t be coming back to Superior. It’s off to River Falls for you; it’s off to the next big thing. I’m happy to have spent the last two years of my life with you, and I hope you feel that way too.

It’s hard to lose you, I’ll admit, but I know you’re off to do great and amazing things. And just because we’re at two different schools, we’re still going to be friends. As you depart, I want you to know how much you have meant to me. I want you to know why I call you “Best Friend.”

You were sunlight when I stumbled upon Superior as a freshman, and you were cool. It’s always weird to choose a friend because really you just choose another person and hang onto them. Sometimes I think I held too tight, and sometimes it showed in the relationship. You were a smile when I wanted to cry, and when the world turned upside down, you were there to right it up. And most times, you never even realized what you did for me.

It was more than just moments of smiles, but it was bonding that came from late nights or studying and the spontaneous trips you took me on. I’m not one to do things out of schedule, but one day you said, “Let’s skip class. Let’s go to the beach.” I was so scared to go, and I never liked breaking rules-- but we were off. There were other times where you showed up at my door and said, “Let’s go for an adventure.” The times when I wanted to be left alone, you wouldn’t allow it.

I realize it was never easy to be my best friend because I don’t open my heart up much. Sometimes things would come out of my mouth, and I can still heat the high pitch growl of “Fee.” Yet you stuck by me. For every sore spot I managed to touch and everything not done, you came back to me. You pulled me to my feet and we were off. No one else had ever done that for me.

There were many times where I couldn’t breathe but had to pee from all the laughter. It was all the crying that happened in the many times in between. It’s all the fights we got into and both of us stubborn enough to never admit that we’re wrong. And it’s all the time where we felt pure and simple joy. It was all the new experiences we had, and it was all the places we took each other. It is the last two years rolled up in my head, and I want to keep them very close.

Even as I write this very public statement of my thanks and love of you, I want to keep them close. They are mine; they are yours. Even if I tried to explain them, it wouldn’t make sense. They are mine; they are yours.

You’re off, best friend, and you’ll go and do a million-- billion-- gazillion things. Suddenly I’m not apart of them, and there is a fear that when you go off, you’ll find another person like me. There are always people like me, even though you say there aren’t-- there are. So if you meet another like me, let them know you’re already their best friend because I think you can be friends with anyone. It will hurt if you choose them over me, and I hope they know how lucky they are-- at the same time, I am happy for me. I am lucky to have had you in my life.

There is no one like you, and this next giant leap into the rest of your life will be amazing.

I know you’re excited and I know you’re nervous, but take it from an old pro at being scared: you’ve got this. You are talented, smart, kind, wonderful, funny, stunning-- and you will make life your bitch. You will be the best. If you do fall, don’t forget that the ground is only temporary, and there will be people to help you get right back up. But I have no doubt that you’ll do great things. I have no doubt you will be happy. I have no doubt that you will show the same dignity and grace you have done with everything else.

Thank you, best friend, for everything you have done for me, but it’s your turn now. Good bye and good lucky, Best Friend!