Move in day is a mix of excitement, panic, stress, and joy. Once the boxes are unpacked, the room is (somewhat) in order, and beds are made, your parents leave and you don't know what to do next. Many college students go into freshman year only knowing a few students from their high school. For the most part though, friendships are made from scratch.

Making friends in college is hard, especially with second-semester recruitment. The awkward beginning of freshman year is rough, but as time goes on, you begin to form deep and lasting relationships with people. Luckily for me, I got so blessed with my roommate. She's a clean person, loves sleep, and is extremely laid back. I'm so blessed to have had such a great first roommate experience, and on top of that, I just so happen to live in the best hall ever. The girls in my hall have become my best friends and we've stayed so close even after we got into different sororities. These first college friends are ones you never forget, and ones that you grow with through college.

We're all different in so many ways, but that's the beauty of the friendships that we've made. We all bring different strengths and personalities that lead us to become our own little family. As summer separates us for the longest amount of time since we've met, I'd like to take time to appreciate the people who became my family in about eight months.

Thank you for never letting me eat alone.

From 8:45 am breakfasts, to 12:30 am Whataburger runs, thank you for always wanting to come eat with me. You never judged me for eating way too many french fries, and you'd wait until I was out of class to eat, even if you were starving. They say that the best bonding happens at the table, and I totally agree. So many family dinners, so many memories. Thank you for making meal time a time for us to talk about our days.

Thank you for laughing at my jokes.

Although I was the victim of many Snapchat stories, I love you all for thinking I'm funny and not just weird. I've laughed so hard with all of you, and we've made so many memories (singing when we shouldn't, quoting Vine, weird accents, and general oddities.) Thank you for not being afraid to embarrass yourself and to embarrass me.

Thank you for pushing me outside of my comfort zone.

Freshman year has pushed me in all aspects, and I can thank you all for a lot of my growth. Academic, spiritual, social, and even physical. You always invited me to church and pointed me to God when I was struggling. You harassed me (and physically pushed me) until I talked to that cute boy, and made me do Insanity work outs. I probably wouldn't have tried as many things as I did without feeling like I had you all as my support system. Thank you for allowing me to grow during this year.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Grades, the weather, clothes, boys, and random high school drama, you sat through all of it and let me give you a 5-year back story about people you never knew and probably will never hear of again. It's weird to meet people who don't know anything about your world before college, but it's also beautiful. No matter how random or dramatic my venting was, thank you for caring, and giving sound, wise advice.

Thank you for being my mom.

Everyone turns into somewhat of a mom in college. Thankfully, I got so many people who would take care of me when I needed it (or was just being lazy). You let me nap, drove me to get food, bought me food, drove me to class, took care of me when I was sick, folded my laundry, and were always honest with me. Thank you for being a "cool mom" that I couldn't have made it through this year without.

Thank you for studying with me.

Usually when we're all together, we're being ridiculous and and talking over each other, but when we need to study, we study. Thank you for reading over my papers, helping me with Calculus, reviewing vocabulary, and silently sitting with me in the library. The communal struggle of cramming led to some late nights, but quality delusional bonding.

Thank you for encouraging me.

When I'm having a bad day, you all always know what I need. You let me nap, binge-watch Netflix, send me Bible verses and give me snacks. Those little gestures mean the world in this weird college environment, and really make a difference. Thank you for being there for me and always willing to take time out of your day to make mine a little bit better.

I love you all, and I can't wait for all the new memories to come!