My friends and I are sitting in our living room, watching that Circle of Death—the little spinning wheel that makes you wait for whatever you wanted online—spin as we wait for a movie to load. I become frustrated and impatient because one friend has to leave in the exact amount of time that the movie will last (assuming it ever loads and the Circle of Death dies). But all of the sudden, it picks up speed and we jump, hop and skip numbers as the percentage of loading stretches to one hundred. Then I start to think about how these last couple of weeks have been that unfortunate Circle and how I have been caught up in watching it spin and letting it drive me mad, rather than relishing the intimacy of a cozy house full of friends on a rainy day. With one week left with my new friends, the annoying and frustrating Circle is rapidly approaching 100, and I find I am not as ready as I think I am.

The last couple of weeks have been the hardest I have experienced in a long time, and the upcoming week will be the same. But as I sit and write, rather than wallowing in self-pity, I want to thank the ones around me for making it bearable. This one goes out to all of you.

Thank you, my family, for answering my calls and texts when I feel like I am losing my mind.

Thank you, my friends miles away, for never giving up on me. Distance is hard.

Thank you, my classmates, for stepping up and picking up my slack even though you had no idea I was struggling.

Thank you, my (sorority) sisters, for accepting my plump, bruised, messy heart and polishing it.

Thank you, my counselors, for guiding me through life.

Thank you, human beings, for continually showing me that people are truly good at heart.

Thank you, my dog, for cuddling me on nights when I feel alone and on days when I don't want to go to class, and when I am cold after just hopping out of the shower and changing into my clean clothes.

Thank you, Man From AT&T, for coming to my house at 8 a.m. on a Saturday to fix the Internet. It is finals week.

Thank you, those who are graduating, for all you have done for me.

Thank you, God, for this life and all I have in my heart and hands. Thank you for my past, present and future.

The Circle of Death sucks; it will always suck at one time or another, but I will always have something to be thankful for.

I am in love with this world and all that is has and all it had. I am in love with my life, those who have been, are and will be in it.

Screw the Circle. I have a life to live.