Dear my newly graduated friends,

I just wanted to take a few moments of your day and thank you for everything you have done for me. You have always taken time out of your day for me before; so I hope a bit more time will be OK. I promise, it’s worth it.

I never thought being friends with an older person would have so much impact on my life, but it did. You have been an inspiration and role model to me.

Thank you for listening to me complain about classes you already took 2 years ago and helping me even though I’m sure that was the last thing you wanted to do. You always knew exactly what I needed to know to do well in the class.

Thank you for giving me advice on life. You knew exactly what to say to make me feel better about any problem. There was always a simple answer to my over-dramatic problem and you were there to let me know.

Thank you for giving me goals in life. I know you were always stressed about finishing all your classes and getting a job after school, but you made it. Your goals inspired me to work harder because before I know it, I will be in your shoes. You made me aware of the real world and I have to prepare for it.

Thank you for not treating me like I was an annoying younger person, but just a friend. I never felt intimidated approaching you or hanging out with you and your other friends. You always made me feel like I belonged and was not an outsider, even though I am at a very different place in my life.

Thank you for being my person to look up to, even though we were still friends. Before I even knew you, I looked up to you. People always choose celebrities as their role models, but they don’t realize that the best role models in their lives are right in front of their faces. Getting to know you, I realized you were exactly someone I should look up to.

The way you carried yourself in every situation was how I wanted to carry myself. You handled every situation in a mature, adult way and that is an admirable thing, especially since you are only a couple years older than me.

Thank you for giving me someone so hard to say goodbye to. I will miss you so much next year when I need advice, class help or just some friend to hang out with. I never thought I would get so close to someone in such a short amount of time, but I did. I couldn’t be happier that it was with someone like you.

You had more of an impact on my life than you will ever know and I love you for that. I hope you are ready for some random texts and FaceTime calls and by random I mean multiple times a week.

Try not to forget about me, because I for sure will never forget you.