Dear Bridgewater College,

I have had the privileged to call you home for the past 2 and 1/2 years. Now as I am wrapping up my junior year, halfway around the world, I realize how grateful I am.

Thank you for teaching me that I am strong.

When searching for colleges I had two main necessities. 1. It had to have division 3 soccer. I had played all my life and couldn't imagine life without it. and 2. The school had to offer multiple majors. I had no idea what I wanted to do and I needed options. Bridgewater provided both of those...until I was cut from the soccer team. I thought my life was over. I wanted to transfer. Although that moment will always stick with me, I survived and I grew from that situation.

Thank you for allowing me to meet my best friend.

It was here (and a result from getting cut) where I met my best friend . Someone who would stay up all night laughing at our laughs. Someone who would finish a large pizza with me, without regret. Someone who taught me to like Taylor Swift music again (lol). Someone who lived in a closet with me and didn't want to kill me (that often). She has been by my side through the school projects, break ups, family drama, the multiple finals week, the long talks about life, and so much more. I know that she will be by my side for all my future accomplishments (and my failures), just like I will be there for hers. So thank you, if it wasn't for Bridgewater I would have never met my best friend.

Thank you for my team.

You gave me the opportunity to join the field hockey team after getting cut from soccer. I can't thank you enough. I have never gone more then one week without playing a sport and even though those first few months were a nice break, I was bored. I watched thousands of episodes on Netflix and would be taking 3+ hour naps in between classes. I knew I needed to do something and you gave me the chance to be part of a team again. Although there were talks of shunning me when I joined (lol), I am so glad that they choose to welcome me with open arms. There are so many wonderful, crazy, goofy, smart people on this team (what do you mean?) and it is just amazing to me how much this team can go through and accomplish together. They have supported me through all the ups and downs of playing division 3. They have pushed me to work harder and given me the encouragement I needed. I can 100% say that if it wasn't for them, I would not only be going crazy from boredom, but I wouldn't have an ODAC ring (woot woot!!).

Thank you for the KCC.

Most people are probably thinking, "wait, what?" Although the food is not...um how do I put this nicely...that good...the KCC is still one of my favorite spots. Whether I am there after a practice, having chocolate milk or people watching (instead of doing homework) or trying to figure out what to eat (and ending up with another slice of pizza and bowl of cereal). The KCC is where I have had some of the best times. Although I will always remember the KCC for the food (not really a good thing haha), I will also remember it for all the endless conversations, awkward eye contact with random people and the great laughs. I know I can always count on those "oh remember when we were in the KCC and..." stories.

So even though I still have to describe Bridgewater as "It's near JMU" to outsiders, I will always consider you my home and the people there my family. You have given me so many memories and I cannot wait to see what you have in store for me in my last year.

Marisa