Dear Union University,

It seems another year is coming to a close, and nostalgia begins to set in as I reflect on the past year. The more I look back on my time here, the more I realize that I have a lot to thank you for. First of all, thank you for letting me fall in love with you. I fell in love with you the first time I met you, what feels like many years ago, and you have not changed (too much) since that first encounter. I still love seeing the trees in bloom, and each time as I pass them, I am reminded of passing them the first time, thinking of how badly I wanted this place to become my home. I love the bell tower in all its simple beauty as it stands guard over the great lawn. I love the sound of the fountains at night that have become my companion on nights I need to think.

Secondly, I would like to thank you for placing me with a girl who would become my very best friend in the same dorm room as me my freshman year. I do not know how I would have made it through that first year here without her to help me. On that note, this place is where I met the friends I know I will have for the rest of my life, and it is also where I met the man of my dreams. Union, you have given me some of the greatest treasures in my life that I get to call my friends. For that, I will always be grateful.

Thank you also for introducing me to my major. I found my calling here, and with that, I will be able to pursue my dream job. There are so many wonderful faculty and staff here that if I had not met them I would not have known that my major was an option. Since declaring a major in Ministry and Missions, I have had the great pleasure of being taught by professors that love the Lord and love sharing their knowledge of Him with students. My professors genuinely want me to succeed and are always willing to help me with anything I need.

I could never really list all the things this university has done for me, but I thought I would at least try to name a few. I'm so thankful I was able to grow here. I have spread my roots here, and this place will always feel like home to me. Keep it classy, Union. Ayo Bulldogs!