As this semester comes to a close and we frantically try to finish up with the study guides, research papers and cumulative finals everyone is focused on handing in their work, packing up their living space from the past 9 months and getting home to family, friends and pets. Among all of this, finding time to say a proper goodbye to your college friends may begin to slip by and before you know it the cars packed and your parents are starting the car and it hits you…
For the next few months they won’t be two doors down the hall or just across the quad. They’re going to be halfway across the state, making those nights of binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy and late night trips to Taco Bell a thing of the past. Granted it is only three months, but when you’ve come accustomed to having them by your side it can make those twelve weeks the longest you’ve endured.
This year I’ve grown closer to my friends at college even more than I thought possible. When I wasn’t sure about my future in my major, they were there to tell me I would make it and stayed with me in the library to study until the early hours of the morning. When I lost two family members in two months, they were there to hug me and let me cry with them on their beds until I felt better. If a venting session was needed at 3 a.m. I always knew there was five numbers I could text or call to talk to someone. I owe each of them a huge thank you for making sure I made it through this year.
Hopefully, summer visits will be planned to see your best friends from college, and if you’re lucky enough maybe your friends from home can meet your college friends and actually get along which makes for a happy ending. After all of the studying, learning, growing and adventuring we did this year, I feel like it’s safe to say my summer will be spent missing you all. Time with high school friends will be enjoyed by all of us, especially since we tend to want to kill each other as often as we love each other. Spending time apart will help these friendships grow stronger this summer, plus the first time you see each other after spending some time apart will be that much better.
Be sure to take some time as this year comes to a close to enjoy your friends around you and to appreciate the ease with which you can be with them at any time of the day. Take one of your late night Sheetz or McDonalds trips, or take a walk around campus at night. I know that it is the last few days of finals and everyone is stressed with splitting their time between sleeping, eating and studying, but schedule a little last minute bonding time with your best friends. Without them you wouldn’t be where you are right now, freaking out about the Spanish presentation you have an hour after your cumulative anatomy final surrounded by people who believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself
To my friends here at LVC, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting me through the hardest year of my life. Without you all I really wouldn’t be where I am right now.
Enjoy your summer vacation, I’ll see you soon.
