At the start of the semester, you think you have forever until finals week, forever until you are going to have to say goodbye. In the beginning, you feel as though you don’t have a single friend in sight. You feel lost, and alone, and a little bit scared. But slowly, you meet people, some of the best people. You meet people, and you find yourself constantly trying to think about how you actually managed to survive without these people. They become your family. You rely on them. You trust them. You make so many amazing memories and share secrets (but secrets don’t make friends). You forget what it was like to not have them as a part of your life. And suddenly, faster than you can prepare for it, it’s finals week and you realize that you are going to be saying goodbye to the few people who have actually understood you for the past four months. Yes, you will see them when the next semester begins in January, but a month away from them seems like an eternity, and it kind of breaks your heart.
Coming into college, I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to find friends. I figured that everyone would be out partying, and I would be the one alone in my room doing homework or watching movies, all alone. Instead, I found some of the most amazing people on this planet, and I wouldn’t have wanted to suffer through the semester with anyone else. Thinking about saying goodbye to them makes me so sad because I have grown so used to their constant presence, guidance, support, and humor.
Since I really don’t know how I am going to say goodbye without sobbing uncontrollably, I am using this as a way to say goodbye to the people who have become so important to me in college.
To my incredibly amazing roomie, I literally have no clue what I would have done if I didn’t have you this semester. I don’t think I could have dealt with a terrible roommate on top of everything else. Thank you for remembering where I left things when I can’t remember where I put them to save my life, jamming to random music with me, reminding me of what classes I have, always bringing keys because god knows I never have mine, and for always being so supportive of me no matter what. Thank you for agreeing that our friends are totally weird and listening to me when I need to rant about my difficult classes or a stupid boy.
To my first real guy friend on campus, First of all, I am so happy to have met you during orientation. Things happen for a reason, and I know I met you during that ice breaker because I was meant to. You have become such an important part of my life, and I really could not imagine college without you. Who else am I going to say I’m going to the gym with and then cancel when I can’t seem to drag myself out of bed? Thank you for always being there to listen when I’m stressed, emotional, or so tired that I act like I’ve been drinking. I seriously consider to to be the big brother I never had but always wanted, and I love messing with your love life just like an annoying sister would (but I’m better at it than a sister would be). We have made so many memories, like me almost killing you during the scary parts of movies, that weekend you let me live in your room when my roommate went home, and all of our very specifically timed daily lunch plans. I am looking forward to making so many many more memories in the coming semesters.
To the girl who is quickly becoming one of my best friends, To be honest, I don’t even really remember when we started to become friends, but I’m so glad it happened. I know I can trust you with anything, and we have such a good time every time we are together. I love that you are so outgoing and funny. You always know how to brighten my day when I need it. Thank you for listening to me ranting over texts about stupid people, messing with guys on Tinder together, and for always being down to get food when I want to (a.k.a always). I seriously love you, and I can’t wait to hear you yelling from two floors away while I’m trying to study on the 5th floor next semester.
To everyone else who has made my college experience memorable, thank you for putting up with me. I know I’m a lot to handle sometimes. Thanks for the incredible stories for me to tell when I get back home, all of the pictures that no one actually looks good in, and all of the times I laughed so hard I cried.
Coming to college allowed me to really find my people, a group that I truly feel like I was destined to meet. I wouldn’t change a single late study session, early morning workout, freezing cold walk to Starbucks, terrible lunch at Saga, boring night at Academic Support, or movie night for anything. You guys are my people, and I am honestly going to miss you so much. A month may not seem like a long time, but it really is when that’s how long you have to spend without some of the people who make you the happiest. Then it’s a very long time.. I can’t wait to come back in January and start a whole new semester of memory making with some of my favs. (Oh yeah, and also another semester of classes. Lol no.)
