Although, if we’re being honest, you weren’t actually the first. But you were the ‘first’ first; does that make sense?

And while we are being honest, let me first admit what you’ve probably learned after spending our waking hours together this past year of college; I’m not good with words, I’m not good at feelings, I’m not good at keeping in contact - heck I'm not good at even making friends - the latter is just too much work if you ask me. But I digress, and will say that above all the things I’m not and probably will never be good at, that I am better at written word. Give me a keyboard or a pen and I will give you everything else I couldn't give or tell you in person.

Which in this case, is a thank you.

Thank you for being open (and patient) enough to deal with that first awkward ice breaker, tentative hi, rant, bus ride, heck - thank you for surviving not only orientation but also surviving me. It was a whirlwind of days full of chaotic but organized activities, and somehow in between those tentative smiles and repressed I-want-to-go-home chatter, you found the time to also deal with me.

Thank you for being there and trusting, and going above and beyond my expectations of what it is to be a friend. You aren't the first to show me that there are those who will be and do more than what is enough, and most likely you won't be the last - but what you are is one of the few, maybe handful, of people I’ve met and have yet to meet to show me that hey, opening up isn't so bad. Making friends is sometimes worth the trouble.

Kidding.

(Well, not really.)

Anyway, thank you. I can't write it out or express it enough. You’ve endured the stressed, coffee-and-sleep-deprived me, and have somehow found yourself stuck (hopefully willingly) with someone like me. (You’ve repressed any expression hinting that you regret our friendship thus far, so I’m assuming willingly for both sanity’s sake and the theme of this article).

That comment aside, we've mourned over grades together, stressed out together, churned out trash essays together, given up together...essentially - we’ve seen a lot of our worst together and somehow have managed to be nonplussed by the other’s levels of hot mess-ness.

So thank you, thank you, thank you.

Crossing bridges is hard, moving off to college is never anything less than monumental and difficult, but if it means meeting more people like you, (only like though, you’re one of a kind, of course), then I’m all for it. You have become one of my tethers, anchors, stones, etcetera to this mad, mad, world and I could have not found a better and more responsible half in this new stage of life.

Sorry for the overdue fluffy speech and cheers and good luck to us braving the next few semesters and endless years together.

(PS. When you read this, I promise I will warn you the next time I decide to become sentimental so you can be prepared and not think this was forced and something is wrong with me.

PS...S. Congratulations on your newest milestone, you adult.)