Dear Freshman Year of College,

We had a good run, and although it is bittersweet to say it, you will be dearly missed. From the joys of constant commotion during Welcome Week to the last hurrah at Sally's Saloon before finals began, we did it all. We laughed, cried (of both joy and sorrow), ate too much fun, didn't work out enough, and made so many new friends. So freshman year, there are a couple things I would like to thank you for.

First, thank you for finally forcing me to break out of my shell in order to make friends. I don't know who I would be spending my days with now if it wasn't for you forcing me to introduce myself to new people in order to just have friends in general. Also, thank you for allowing me to basically assume that everyone is my friend even if I've never met them without anyone thinking it was super weird (does anyone else do this?). You have blessed me with the best of friends I will ever have, and I cannot thank you enough for that.

Second, thank you for teaching me how to spend my money wisely. This does not at all mean that I did exactly that, but you have taught me what life at school is like living with $0 in my savings account and $2.50 in my checking account. Money management really does make a difference when I am starving and walking past Cane's while knowing that I should just got to the dining hall to use my already-paid-for meal plan instead of spending money I don't have. Because of you, I will get really good at finances one day.

Third, thank you for showing me the difference in food quality. Although I was quite familiar with it before, I am so much more aware of it now after eating a "taco" that consisted of a scoop of meat and a slice of cheese at the dining hall. Not shredded or graded cheese, but a fat slice of cheddar cheese on my taco. That day was a tough one. Oh, the many memories of the dining hall...

Lastly, thank you freshman year for allowing me to be independent. I never realized how different life is without the presence of my closest friends and family to be there everyday to check up on me just to see who things are going. You taught me how to be okay with being alone, whether that means studying alone in the library or watching a movie alone in my dorm room. Being alone is so okay that sometimes I now even prefer it over always being surrounded by a large group of people. It is good every once in a while to get my thoughts in order. For that, thank you.

So freshman year of college, as our time together comes to an end, I hope you don't forget me as I will mostly never forget you and all the dumb things you made me do.

With all my love,

A Soon-To-Be Second Year College Student