Dear James Madison University,

As a student going into her junior year at JMU, I’ve wanted to say thank you for all of the opportunities you have given me. Seeing all of the freshmen move in reminded me how my JMU journey began, and how I will never want it to end.

Thank you, JMU, for my freshman year. It was filled with so many new memories, getting lost on campus, going to Dog Pound after a fraternity or apartment party, inspiring professors, and hilarious stories that I will tell for the rest of my life.

Thank you, JMU, for having the small-town feel. As someone who lives 20 minutes from D.C., I can still appreciate the small-town aspects that surround this school. The people who live in the town and work on campus are oh-so kind and the local restaurants are the BOMB. If you haven’t tried Billy Jacks or Jalapenos yet, you must go before you graduate. Oh, and you cannot forget about the sunsets. They're amazing. Expect at least four people on your Snapchat to post on their story a beautiful photo of the sunset going down between mountains.

Thank you, JMU, for the classes. As much of a pain-in-the-ass as it is to use your system to pick our classes and get the general education requirements out of the way, some of these classes I will remember for the rest of my life—and the professors. The classes at JMU are vigorous and many students were reminded of that during their freshman year, no matter what you were taking. However, JMU has taught us how to work hard and earn what we deserve in the class. What you put in, is what you get out of it.

That being said... Thank you, JMU, for the “play-hard” part of college. With JMU not being a bar school, it was hard to tell if I would have fun when I tried to go out. I was soon relieved the first night I went out at JMU. No matter where you go, JMU students make it a party.

Thank you, JMU, for all of our traditions. JMU students and alumni have a bond with the school and the traditions we share. The JMU fight song, the JMU chant, the notorious FROG week, the kissing rock, the underground tunnels, and the campus crawl are just some of the aspects that make JMU what it is and what bonds us all together.

Lastly, JMU, thank you for the memories everyone has had here. Every subtle moment studying with friends in Carrier (or ECL), going to lunch in SSC, raging for Game Day, stumbling home from forest or south main, or even staying home with your roommates has shaped our experience here as a wonderful one. Thanks for everything JMU, and go dukes.