This past weekend, I watched my best friend graduate.

I had a plan to take videos and pictures when he received his diploma, but I didn't get the chance to put that plan into action. When I watched him walk across the stage in his regalia, all I could do was scream my head off and cheer. And I had everything that I wanted to say to him in my head, but when I got the chance to hug him, all the things I wanted to say flew out. All I could say was "Congratulations!" So, here's what I wanted to say and couldn't:

To my best friend,

It seems like we've known each other forever, though it's only been a short while. I feel like no one knows me better than you. I am incredibly proud of everything that you have accomplished, and how hard you worked to get to where you are right now.

I want to thank you for being there for me always, no matter what hour of the day or night. Thank you for buying my coffee way too many times, for helping me study for exams, and for driving me around on my many errands.

Thank you for putting up with rom com movie nights (and for supplying the ice cream for those movie nights), for always having a shoulder for me to cry on, and for being on my side when I felt the world was against me.

Thank you for all the goofy moments, but also for the serious ones. Thank you for being a mentor and for guiding me through the rocky road that is college. I would be lost without you.

I hope that you will continue imparting your wisdom on me, especially as you start your journey as a true adult. I hope to continue to look to you for guidance and advice.

I hope that you will only change for the better. I hope that you grow and discover who you are out in the real world. But I hope that you don't change who you fundamentally are; please don't ever change your weird, quirky, dorky self. Remember the people that helped you get to where you are today. Look back fondly on the memories you made with your friends (no matter how awkward or embarrassing they may be), because they are the true reason that your college experience played out the way it did.

Most importantly, don't forget about me. I know that you are going to get caught up in the whirlwind of a new life, new adventures, and new challenges. But I hope that you don't grow out of our friendship, and that we will always be able to connect in the way that we have. I hope that we can find new ways to connect and that our friendship will only continue to grow.

I love you, graduate. I am so proud of you.

Congratulations to you and the rest of the class of 2016!