Second semester of my junior year is coming in hot and while I'm extremely excited to be heading back to campus after a long semester away, I can't help but also feel a little bit nostalgic.

Nostalgia is described as a longing for the past, referring to happier days. This is not to say that my days right now aren't full of happiness, because they definitely are. This is simply referring to the fact that I am reminiscing on my last 2.5 years of college and all of the wonderful memories I have created so far.

I know people typically do this once they actually graduate, but this semester feels like the beginning of a new life to me. It's going to be the most challenging, busy, hectic, incredible, and rewarding semester of my life. And while I am more than ready to take it on, I can't help but feel a little sentimental. And I'm pretty sure, actually 100% positive, all of these feelings have to do with the absence of my three best friends in these upcoming months.

I am one of those girls who found their people in college. And when I say my people I mean my absolute best friends, my ultimate girl squad, my bridesmaids, my sisters. I found friends that changed my life for the better and showed me the true meaning of friendship. I found a group that sticks with each other through everything and has the absolute best time doing it. I found three truly incredible and inspiring women who I am lucky enough to call my OG roomies.

And because I am usually not the sentimental mushy type, I just wanted to give a huge thank you to these gals.

Thank you for making Kent State my home away from home. Thank you for making my very first apartment so welcoming. Thank you for the adventures to New York, Panama City Beach, Cleveland, Columbus, Oxford, Canada, and all over Europe. Thank you for picking me up when I don't make it to a concert and buying me chicken nuggets. Thank you for letting me sleep in your bed when a boy was mean to me. Thank you for staying in every Thursday with me and watching 'Greek' and not judging the amount of Papa Johns I ate.

Thank you for going to art museums and record stores with me when I'm sad. Thank you for letting me borrow your clothes. Thank you for having a sober rave with me on a Wednesday night. Thank you for playing with mini dinosaurs and thinking it's completely normal. Thank you for pulling all nighters at the library freshman year even when your projects weren't due until after mine. Thank you for buying me a cookie cake.

Thank you for always being down to get food. Thank you for being my personal photographers. Or my workout buddy on those few days I was actually motivated. Thank you for missing date party when I was a crazy person and tried to scale a 10 foot fence. Thank you for going to concerts and music festivals with me. Thank you for filling up a kiddie pool using coolers of water. Thank you for going out to frats and dancing to "Sugar We're Goin' Down with me".

Thank you for starting a hashtag on my birthday. And for staying out while I danced like a fool even though you wanted to go home. Thank you for bringing Taco Bell to a party. Thank you for buying me My Little Pony chokers. Thank you for throwing me a surprise party with all my favorite people. Thank you for playing pranks on each other (scaring, moving mattresses, and even more scaring). Thank you for crying when you spilled flax seed. Thank you for not judging me when I impulse bought a bubble gun.

Thank you for reenacting weird Vine videos with me. And for making me watch videos about being vegetarian, where chicken nuggets come from, and homeless people. Thank you for letting me use your face masks. Thank you for liking The Lumineers, Vance Joy, Fall Out Boy, Halsey, Bad Suns and throwbacks. Thank you for letting me eat your mini wheats in exchange for watching Disney movies. Thank you for letting me keep a s'mores in my purse and for feeding it to a random boy.

Thank you for always being down to brunch. And for going to random clubs in Barcelona where our drinks come with sparklers. Thank you for suffering through an ice bar with me. Thank you for getting Chipotle in Paris with me. Or spending the day shopping. Thank you for sharing a tent at Oktoberfest and eavesdropping on a random dude's phone call about his email to his Grandma. Thank you for sleeping one inch away from me for four months. Thank you for island hopping, pub crawling, and always always adventuring with me. Thank you for just the whole Saturday in Amsterdam. Thank you for being my ultimate travel buddies.

And most importantly, thank you for always including me. For not ever making me feel left out, useless, or worthless. For making me feel important and loved. Thank you for being my best friends. I truly don't know how I will get through this semester without you guys, but I am the proudest, happiest friend and I can't wait to see all you accomplish in the big apple.

Hurry and come home to me for senior year!!!