As my senior year is coming to an end and I start to think about venturing off into the real world, I think about who I was when I came into college. If my freshman self would have been able to handle the stresses that come with growing up and what it would have been like to not meet the people that I did. I think about how each experience in college has strengthened me and has given me the courage to handle life as it comes at me. There’s been a ton of people that have come in and out of my life the past couple years, but there’s that one person (or even people) that has just stuck with me through it all. I want to thank this very special person, I want to thank them for all they’ve done and that’s my College BFF.

I want first thank you for befriending me. Even when I was in the most awkward stage of my life freshman year, you accepted me.

I want to thank you for always making me have fun. For dragging me out of my bed even when I didn't want to, picking me out something cute to wear, and lugging me to that party (that, i'll admit, most of the time ended up being a blast).

I want to thank you for teaching me how to be an adult. I would’ve never known how to cook chicken correctly, pay bills, get a red stain out of my shirt (without ruining it), and many other "adult-like" things, if you wouldn't have been there to do it all with me. Trust me, there was a ton of trial and error.

I want to thank you for teaching me how to take care of myself. I would’ve never shed the "freshman 15" if you weren’t there to go to the gym with me every day and to the grocery store to make sure I bought healthy items only!!!

But, I also want to thank you for not judging me when I would eat a family-sized bag of Doritos all by myself, and end up buying one for yourself instead.

I want to thank you for being my person to confide in whenever I needed it. No matter if it was a huge dilemma I was having, or just needing to vent about "that one annoying girl," I knew I could always count on you to listen.

I want to thank you for giving me tough love. For telling me that dress didn't look good on me (even though I loved it), for telling me I was being stupid with a boy (even if sometimes I didn't listen), and for slapping that bag of chips out of hand because you knew I was on a diet.

Finally, I want to thank you for being my sister. Thank you for always supporting me, believing in me, being my shoulder to cry on, and being the one who can annoy me to high heavens one minute but have me on the floor cracking up the next. I don't know where I would be without you, and I truly thank you for making me a better person.

Here's to the next four years, BFF...