I personally don't say thank you enough. And it's something many of us are guilty of. I'm always polite, quick to say, "Good morning" or ask, "How's it going?"; I always say, "Thank you," when appropriate. But, I'm not talking about those kinds of "Thank yous." The thank yous I'm referring to are directed to my friends, my family members and all of the other people who go through life with me daily and constantly motivate me to make my life fuller and better. So this is to all of them.

Thank you for motivating me. Even when I'm really down or really sick, I know someone's always there to remind me things will get better and that all it takes is time. This was so important to me when I broke my arms this past year. Sometimes it was hard to feel like I was fully contributing or like I was doing as much as everyone else. The reminders that I'm getting closer to normal were what helped me keep everything in perspective. Thank you.

Thank you for challenging me. Daily, I have friends invite me to step out of my comfort zone, whether it be running a marathon, trying a new food or going to a new place. It's so important we help each other grow in every way possible. It helps keep us all moving forward and developing new skills. Thank you.

Thank you for understanding me. I have one of the craziest schedules because of all the activities in which I'm involved. I'm so lucky to have friends that get that I always have homework, classes or ensembles or even just the need to practice my saxophone. You remind me both that it's okay to say no and that sometimes, I really do need a break from it all. Thank you.

Thank you for supporting me. Whether I'm ski jumping, running the third-hardest marathon in the world or just tackling my 20 credits this semester, I lean on all of you a lot. And every time, you're there for me to remind me that it's temporary, that I can do this, and that I should never doubt myself. Even when I do, you're always there to talk me out of it and just give me a little nudge to remind me that thinking I couldn't handle something was dumb. Thank you.

And most importantly, thank you for helping shape me and helping me grow. Every single person in my life affects my character in some way or another. Some people remind me of who I don't want to be. Some people remind me of everything I do want to be. Without realizing it, you all have had a profound effect on my life in helping make me, me. I don't ever say thank you enough for everything you've given me, but in the future, I will.