As I get closer and closer to leaving for college, I'm reminded of the people and memories I'm leaving behind. I'm so excited for this next chapter of my life, but I'm not quite sure that I'm ready to finish writing this one.

In the past year, I've made more lifelong friends than I have in the past 18 years. I would honestly give my life for any one of them, and they might do the same for me. I've become so close to these people in such a short amount of time, and I honestly didn't anticipate how difficult it would be to leave them. I'm going to miss out on so many things that are going on in their lives; I'm going to miss so many opportunities to make memories with them.

I can’t imagine going a week without getting Denny’s or Sonic with them. I can’t imagine not going to the movies with them on Tuesdays. I can’t imagine not being able to join them when they all pile in someone’s house, eat pizza, scream at each other and play hide-and-go-seek in the dark. I don’t know how I’ll manage to watch them live their lives through the lens of a Facebook group chat without being able to join them. I’m currently the only one out of us that is leaving our hometown, and I truly cannot express how much I’m going to miss them. We’ve done so many great things together, and it’s going to feel extremely strange to conquer life without them by my side.

So, to all of you, my high school buds, thank you. Thank you for giving me all of these great moments to look back on. I know someone is probably thinking that me leaving is a “personal problem,” at least one of you is Reddit-shrugging, someone probably has the urge to respond to this with a meme, a certain someone is going to tell me he hates me and I’m going to replace him and another one of you still has three years of high school to go. Just know that I’m not going to replace you, I’m going to be home as much as possible, and I love every one of you so much.

For the past five years, I’ve known the woman I call my best friend and sister. I will never be able to express to you how much you mean to me or how much I’m going to miss you. You’re my platonic soulmate and my favorite person ever. You’re going on to do such great things, and I am so proud of you. I’m going to be in college for the next four years, but I promise you that we’re traveling the world when you go on tour (because I know you have the capacity and talent to do that) regardless of whether I’m still in school or not. I love you more than anyone or anything on this earth, and I will always be here for you no matter what.

Lastly, I’m going to actually miss high school. It took me a very long time to admit that, but I really am going to miss waking up at seven in the morning and wading through tons of people to get to class. I’m going to miss seeing my friends at least five days a week, and I’m going to sincerely miss walking into the auditorium for Speech and Debate. I don’t know how I’m going to go weekends without spending 12+ hours arguing with a stranger. My life won’t be the same without standing in a circle with some of the brightest and smartest people around my Speech and Debate coach while screaming a battle cry and preparing to win as many trophies as possible. It amazes me that when I go to school at the end of August, I won’t be training brand new debaters.

Thank you to each and every person who has shaped and changed my life in some way; I couldn’t have done it without any of you. I’m going to college, but I can promise you that I won’t forget a single one of you.