Sometimes it feels like just yesterday when we where planning prom, blasting music as we drove around and I hated the thought of graduation because I didn’t want to go to college without you. But three years later I survived the breakup. I’m sure you’ve changed since high school, and I’m sure you treat your current girlfriend just as well as you treated me. Probably even better, because you’ve grown up, just like the Jana Kramer song says, “I got the boy, and she got the man." This statement is very true, but I want to say thank you to the boy for everything he taught me.
Thank you for being my first love. You were the first person outside of my family I told I love you too. This is a big deal when you are 16. I remember what a big deal we made about saying it for the first time, and after that probably saying it more than necessary. The excitement that came from saying it out loud was something I couldn’t put into words. It was a rush I wasn’t used to.
Thank you for teaching me how to love. You taught me that relationships and love aren't always perfect. You will fight, and things will get bad. But no matter how bad they get, they will get better. You taught me that, when you truly love someone, it’s the small things that make you smile. And the small things that make you fall deeper.
Thank you for encouraging me. Without you I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. You believed in me more than I believed in myself. You pushed me to always do my best at everything. You actually pushed me to apply to WIU, where I currently attend, and without you I wouldn’t be here. I would have never joined my sorority and met my best friends. Without your push, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today.
Thank you for teaching me what I want. Our relationship was far from perfect. We had our issues. I’ve learned that I want a guy who is silly and goofy like me. But that I don’t want a guy who is overbearing, and doesn’t want me to do anything without him. I want a guy who is okay with me having guy friends, and is okay that I spend too much time with one fraternity. Because I know you wouldn’t be.
Thank you for teaching me when to walk away. Towards the end things were far less than ideal, and became extremely unhealthy. In my head I knew it was time to walk away. As hard as it was, it taught me that, even though you need to fight for a relationship, sometimes things end for a reason.
Things were far from perfect, but it was everything a high school relationship should be. You taught me a lot about myself, and life. So, thank you.
