To whoever can relate;

I have been wandering around US soil for about three years now, mostly in the Midwest. I can definitely say that it has been a journey of continuous learning, new experiences and unforgettable memories that I will take with me wherever my next steps lead. I am at that stage in the college experience where you are excited to graduate but scared to find out what the next chapter of your life has prepared for you. To get to this point, I have been through better and worse, and with my family and my friends from home away from me, I can't deny that I've had wondrous help to get through.

I want to thank all of my friends' parents that, at any point in my experience, have understood me, welcomed me into their home like a member of their own family, offered me an affectionate hug or simply helped me in any kind of way when I needed support. I wish I could extend to all of you, my most sincere gratitude, as well as my family's because when I couldn't go home to my parents or I couldn't have them with me, you showed up or reminded me through my friends that, after all, I wasn't that alone.

To my newfound friendships along the journey, thank you so very much, for being that open-minded person that didn't judge, that understood me in my ups and downs, that partied with me and brought all the fun. I am thankful that I had someone like you because you made it so much easier for me to keep going, because you cheered for me and bet for me, because you took my hand and guided me around a place where everything seemed new, overwhelming, and made me feel part of it and not a complete foreigner. Thank you for understanding those days that I missed home and for offering me your company to distract me from it. You have become my family, and I will keep you close to my heart for many years to come.

Professors and University Faculty/Staff, it might be surprising to a lot of you, but I thank you for making me believe that I can be the person I strive to be, that there is nothing that I can't do and I want to thank you for making it easier to find my calling, to take a step further, and be able to start working in a career that I am passionate about.

Last but not least, to the rest of people that don't fall in these last categories, such as classmates, neighbors and kind people that just helped me out of the goodness of their heart; thank you so much for making me able to believe that there's still hope for young people like me to feel welcomed in a place thousands of miles away from home. You gave me a reason to fall in love with a country that adopted me for the time being and gave me so much to take with me, for the rest of my life.

And without seeming to be self-centered, I want to thank myself, because 3 years ago I was brave enough to take a big step and make a decision that definitely would change me and my life forever; a decision that allowed me to mature, grow up and encounter all these amazing people along the journey.

Once again, thank you so much.

- Ana