To my hometown friends:

“When we speak of magic, we should speak of those moments that were the purest. When the stars were bright, and when the laughter was loud. Those are the moments that were the most magical.”

Freshman year of college is coming to a close, and while it’s hard to believe, soon we’ll all be back together again for the summer. When I think of what the last year has brought myself, I am astonished at the changes I see in everything about me. I’m an adult now. I’ve developed new life views, acquired new knowledge and even made new friends. However, of everything that has changed in the past year, one thing remains concrete — my overwhelming sense of how lucky I am to come from where I come from and to be surrounded by 25-plus people who love and support me no matter where this life takes me.

I think we all knew we were lucky when we were in high school, but if I’m speaking for myself, although I recognized it, I couldn’t wait to get away. I was so convinced that what was coming next was going to be so much bigger and better, that I turned my nose up at my current situation, without taking the time to even consider how much I might miss it. Once I got to college, I truly recognized the extent to exactly how special my bonds were with the people I had left behind. Among all of the other culture shocks that freshman year brings, by far the biggest was the overwhelming absence of a plethora of friends to go and do things with every night, grab lunch with, or even just see on the way to class. I was spoiled to this point, as it was never something I had to worry about. What do you mean I had to work to make new friends? I was so used to being accepted and cherished by so many. This was a totally new world to me.

Eventually, I made new friends, yet I was again surprised at how much I still found a deficit. These were new people from all different walks of life, and of course, they weren’t my infamous self-proclaimed “swat team.” Unfortunately, guys, it took me until we all started our own journeys in life to honestly understand the impact you all had on the parts of the journey we walked together. And so, one year later, I’d like to take the time to thank you.

Thank you for all of the wild and crazy nights, for teaching me the exact meaning of being young, wild and free. Thank you for being there for every victory, triumph and tear through all of high school. Thanks for showing me the meaning of true friendship —people who are there, no matter what, through thick and thin.

As we all finish our finals and head home for the summer, I have a newfound appreciation for you all. If this year has shown me anything, it’s where I can always find unwavering support and friendship, and that’s where it’s always been — just where I came from.

So, cheers! To the best “forever friends” a girl could ask for. Thank you for showing me a little taste of magic.