I love letters. So much so that I have a consistent pen pal. Letters are tangible. What makes them so special is they last. Letters stand the test of time. Text messages? Not really. As it gets closer and closer to move-in day, I find myself saying the word, "goodbye" more often than I would like to. With each new August week, it brings another friend heading off to their freshman year of college. As I say goodbye to each of you, it scares me to think that I do not know the next time I will see you. It used to always be, "See you tomorrow!" Now those weeks turn into months and even a few months are not guaranteed. I don't enjoy leaving words unsaid, so this is my letter to you:
First off, thank you. Thank you for changing and growing and learning along with me. It's safe to say that none of us are the same person we were freshman year (thank God). We were just a small portion of the people we are now. You saw me change and I saw you change. Despite these changes, our friendships stayed the same. We grew up together, and there's no better bonding experience than that. Thank you for always reminding me of the pieces of advice I'd given you, that I so often couldn't take myself. Thank you for letting me play my country music, even when no one wanted to hear it. Thank you for being you.
Second, my wish. The colleges we chose are a direct reflection of who we are as individuals. I wish that you use your college experience to truly understand why you are here. Each of you offers something different to the table. If you do not know just yet what that something is, I hope you find it. And when you do, recognize that you have the fire and ambition to slay at whatever it is. I wish that you recognize you have all the tools and lessons to succeed at this stage in your life. And any resources you don't think you have, you can find at school if you just put in the effort to do so. You are so ready, despite whether you realize it or not. I wish that you mess up. Because only when you mess up do you really discover what you are capable of. If your mess-ups ever get too messy for you to handle alone, know that you always have a listener at the other end of a FaceTime.
There are different ways to end letters. Some simply sign their name, but that's too formal for me. Some use "love", but you already know how much I love you. I could do the whole "it's not goodbye, but see you later" thing, but I might break my screen if I see that as another Instagram caption. I could say "all the best," but you do not need that kind of luck. So instead I'll end my letter with a lyric from (of course) a country song. I know this is generic of me, but Jason Aldean describes what I would like to say best:
"I'll see you when I see you. Another place, some other time. If I ever get down your way or you're ever up around mine just stop by. We'll laugh about the old days and catch up on the new. I'll see you when I see you, 'til then my prayers are with you. And I hope it's some day soon."
~Kate
