Following a summer of hard work, studying, preparing for the next and final year of undergraduate study to come, I find myself extremely sad as the final days close in until I return to school. Surely, I am very excited to return to Buffalo, to see my close friends and return to my studies. However, it has come to my mind that this is the very last time I may be living at home with my family for more than a few weeks.

I have always been very close with my family throughout my childhood, believing that family comes before all else. I spent countless hours with my family, when I was younger even giving up time with friends to attend family events and special occasions. Similarly, New York Mills has been the only home I have ever known. I grew up here before I began school, attended New York Mills Junior Senior High School from Kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade, in the same building for 13 years. I grew up in this village, and know every street of it from New Hartford Street all the way to the end of Main Street heading into Whitesboro. I have never had another home besides this one, and now that I am entering into my final year of undergraduate school, all that is about to change. I have established a new life, new connections, and new friends.

It is an extremely odd feeling saying goodbye to the only real life I have ever known. In truth, it finally sank in when I registered for my LSAT. Following graduation from undergraduate school, with a plan to attend law school at University of Buffalo, the reality of saying goodbye to my home in my small village is finally setting in. While it was indeed a challange to move out to Buffalo for undergraduate school to begin with, it is indeed odd to think that I am finally going to make the change permanent.

So I only say that this year goes out to all of those who helped me get to where I am now. All the teachers in school who pushed me and supported me when I did not even believe in myself, my friends to were always there for me along the way, and last but certainly not least, my family who always made sure that I was taken care of, who always ensured that I achieved success to the fullest of my abilities, and who were always there for me in the darkest and hardest of times. I promise all those who helped me along my way, I will not let you down. I will succeed, achieve my dreams, not look back, and change the world for the better. You have always ensured that I was taken care of and supported, and it is only right that I make sure that your efforts were not in vain.

To all my friends and fellow classmates, lets make sure that this semester is a great one!

See you all again soon!