When I was a freshman, I never believed people when they would tell me that the next four years of my life would fly by. Now that I am a senior and graduating in 31 days, I feel as if I blinked and somehow got here. It feels just like yesterday that I was moving into my freshman dorm and now I am getting ready to step out into adulthood and sign a lease on my house for graduate school.

I have learned so much as a student at Longwood University, not only in my coursework but in life as well. Longwood has helped me find my passion and what I want to do for the rest of my life. Being at this university has brought me to the most amazing people and I have found some of my best friends. Longwood also taught me and encouraged me to step out of my comfort zones and try different things.

As I prepare to graduate, I look back on the past four years and I am thankful that I chose Longwood for my college career. I cannot imagine going anywhere else. I'm thankful for the G.A.M.E., the Oktoberfest experiences, Spring Weekends, and even all of the late nights studying in the library. I'm thankful for the road trips to Richmond or the drives down back Hampden-Sydney road when I needed an escape from life.

Longwood is truly one of the most special places on Earth...it's home. Graduating from this special place will be bittersweet. I am so proud of myself and my friends for accomplishing this goal. We have worked so hard these past four years to get to where we are and we have finally done it! However, I am sad that this journey is coming to an end. Closing this chapter of my life will be hard, but I am lucky enough that I get to stay at this beautiful university for two more years.

Here's to closing one chapter and opening up another!