Dear Momma,

I want to start by saying you are the best mom in the world. I say that all the time because I think sometimes you don't believe it, and sometimes you just need to hear it over and over again because it's true. You are selfless, kind, loving, funny, dependable… all the things a mother should be and so much more. Now that I'm involved on campus, we don't see each other as much. I miss coming home to your hugs, your smile, and your delicious dinners every day after school. I guess you could say distance makes the heart grow fonder because I've learned to really cherish the time we spend together. I know it's tough to work around my schedule most of the time and I don't always make you a priority even though I should, but I want to thank you for being patient with me, loving me, and still being excited to see me no matter what. Thank you for dealing with my crazy hectic life and being supportive every single step of the way.

Thank you for being the first to encourage me when I'm worried, the first to congratulate me when I succeed, and the first to pick me up and dust me off when I crash and burn (usually as a result of not following your advice in the first place). Thank you for being my cheerleader and my one-woman hype squad; it means the world when you say you're proud of me. Thank you for listening to me ramble about every trivial thing going on in my life, and thank you for not making fun of me when I completely lose my train of thought mid-sentence because my mind is cluttered. Thank you for dealing with my packed schedule and for not getting upset when I have to change plans last minute or when I get too busy and forget to call you back.

I really don't mean to blow you off and I hope you know that you're so much more important to me than any campus activity or committee meeting. Thank you for coming to see me whenever you can, even when our time together is shorter than the time it took you to drive here. Thank you for answering my calls any minute of the day and for never hesitating to offer help when I need it. Thank you for being my personal crisis management team. It's so reassuring to know that no matter what mess I manage to get myself into, you'll always know how to fix it. Thank you for letting me vent when I'm too stressed to function and thank you for calming me down and reminding me that I can handle all this. Thank you for sending me funny pictures, a little laughter makes a world of difference when I'm bogged down by stress. Thank you for taking care of me when I inevitably get sick because I'm running on no sleep. Thank you for welcoming me home, even if I only see you for a second before collapsing on the couch and taking a much-needed nap. Thank you for understanding that sometimes I just need a break from everything.

Academics, organizations, committees, jobs, and social obligations keep me pretty tied up most of the time, but I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without your help. I wouldn't be where I am today without your constant support. Thank you for always encouraging me to dream bigger and work harder. Thank you for calling me out when you see that I'm not living up to my potential. Thank you for pushing me to do my best and try new things. You've given me the courage to fly and I would never be where I am today (or as busy as I am today) without you. I love you, Mom.