As freshman year comes to a close, I have found myself reflecting much further into the past. College is an education in more than one way. You grow your academic knowledge as well as simply growing as a person. You learn to appreciate people more: your roommate for renting your favorite movie when you’re feeling down, a best friend for calling you an Uber at 3 am, and the random people for sharing the most hilarious nights and suddenly becoming immensely close. In all of this, you begin to realize that you also appreciate the people who filled these roles not too long ago. For me, and many others, that was my mom.
You took me to every midnight Harry Potter midnight premiere even though you fall asleep during late movies and think my obsession is the weirdest thing.
You let me take a personal day from school at the mall with you when I felt down.
You told me that despite whatever boy had hurt my feelings, there was a better one out there, and I only had to wait to meet him.
You put up with my awkward phases and told me that even if I didn’t know who I was, you did.
You taught me that just because I was a girl, that did not mean I couldn’t be intelligent and strong.
Through all these times and lessons, you helped me become the person I am now, amongst all of my phases, and I know there were a lot, between the time I thought I was a complete hipster to the time I wanted to be the second coming of Tory Burch. Because of you, I am the girl who is sure of herself, and, because of this, I can go away to college and not fall apart. Rather, I am growing and allowing even more experiences to prepare me for the real world.
Unfortunately it has taken me approximately nineteen years to come to this epiphany, and for that I am extremely sorry. I am sorry for not noticing that you take on the role of any person I needed at any time; in college it takes a village to fill your shoes. In each role you filled, in each action you took, you shaped the person I am today, and I am so grateful. I am grateful because whenever I become a mom someday, I will know exactly how to be the perfect one, and it’s not by being perfect, but simply by being there, every day.
Xoxo,
Your Little Girl
