Every friend is a blessing, but a best friend is a blessing that is hard to come by. It’s hard to find that one person that you can be your total self around, tell all of your secrets and worst fears to, go on adventures with, etc. But once you do find that one friend, your life seems to get a whole lot more exciting. This friend, is your best friend, a friend that has outlasted them all.

And my best friend that is all of these things for me and more; and for that I say thank you.

To my best friend Katie aka "Ernie."

You’re the one that has stuck by my side through it all. You’ve never left me through this roller coaster of life, and you’ve never let me down. Thank you for being a part of every high, low, and in between. Thank you for never leaving me.

Thank you for always believing in me when no one else did. Thank you for always assuring me that no matter how crazy high the odds were against me, that I could do whatever it was that I wanted to do. Thank you for constantly supporting me in every decision I made (even if it didn’t work out in the end). Thank you for being there to comfort me during my breakdowns, for laughing and smiling with me during my high points, and for looking at me and knowing exactly what I’m thinking at all times. Best friend telepathy comes in handy in those sticky situations!

Thank you for all of our adventures. I’ve certainly enjoyed all of our trips to the gas station for icees, to different stores only to go in and try on ridiculous looking outfits, our trip through that field of grass, and our many trips to various restaurants to get food (because who doesn’t love a good dinner date?).

Thank you for spending so many homecomings, proms, games, events, etc. with me. I’ve certainly enjoyed all of the memories made during those things that photos just can’t capture! (Including my amazing dance skills.)

Thank you for growing with me. We've gone from thick eyeliner and braces wearing middle schoolers without a clue in the world to adults graduating with high honors from high school. I can honestly say I wouldn't have changed a single thing (not even the eyeliner or the boys we dated).

Thank you for all of the jam sessions in your car, our pregame dances (PSD), the numerous amounts of insiders (get off me), for being equally as obsessed with Spongebob as I am (Krusty Krab is unfair), and for our extremely complex handshake that can never be matched (okay dude please don't drop me).

Very soon, you’ll be leaving for the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Rhode Island, and I’ll be going to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. We will be 1,595 miles apart (whoah). But I firmly believe that no number of miles can break the bond that we have built.

I am so proud of how far we’ve come over the past 6 years. We’ve gone through it all, and still have so much more to come. I’m so excited for our futures!

I know you’re going to do amazing things at the Naval Academy. I hope it’s everything you've hoped for it to be and more. I’m so proud of you, and how hard you’ve worked for this and everything else. It's going to be weird not getting weird looks and causing trouble with you everyday.

I’m forever thankful to have had the privilege of being your friend for so long. Thank you for it all; the laughs, cries, adventures, and memories. I can’t wait to make many more with you whenever you come home. Distance has nothing on us!

I love you very much. And for the millionth time, thank you.

Sincerely, Shelby aka “Burt.”