No matter how hard we tried to escape, we always came back. We weren’t meant to stick around. We had so much potential, talent, ambition, and discipline, we were meant to explore the world and find ourselves in the journey. It didn’t hit us until we started college the following August and made new relationships and actually began accomplishing the dreams we had once before just talked about. When we came home on holiday breaks it was like nothing had changed though. The nights together were so refreshing and promising.

Your hometown friends are very different than any other friends you’ll have in your life. These people know you inside out. They got in trouble and missed recess with you in elementary school, they struggled right along with you throughout your weird middle school days, they got annoyed and pissed off at you in high school and you swore you couldn’t wait to get out of this town so you never have to see these people again.

But then you grow up and you realize that you really won’t ever see these people again unless you make the effort, and so you do. Because no matter where you go in life or what your future holds, these people will remain a constant in your past. While we go out into the other world, the real world, and try to become whoever we aspire to be we will always be kept humble by those who know us best. In fact, for me, these people have made me who I am today.

I grew up with the same group of people since kindergarten and that is such a blessing. I’ve spent a majority of my life seeing the same faces day in and day out. We were damn near family. They say after high school your circle of friends gets smaller and smaller but I disagree with that. Although I may not talk to these people on a daily basis, that doesn’t mean they aren’t my friends anymore. A friend is someone who is always there for support. I know for a fact that I can call up any one from Greentown, Indiana and they’ll answer.

I want to say thank you to you guys for always knowing what is best for me and for always being there to catch me when I fall. Thank you for some of the best memories of my life and all the laughs and tears they brought on. And thank you for always growing with me and inspiring me. Your love, loyalty, and support never goes unnoticed or forgotten. Thank you for being my family.

Yours truly,

Mallory