During freshmen orientation, parents had the opportunity to write their incoming freshman a letter that we were mailed during our first semester. Mine came at a perfect time, when I was a bit homesick and really needed my mom. With less than three weeks to graduation, I think it's about time I wrote her back.
Dear Mom,
I know we picked the right place four years ago. I've been grateful to work with some of the brightest people and learn more from them than I could have ever imagined. They've helped me pursue what I love and push me to work as hard as you told me I could. My love for my school and its town is greater than I ever thought it would be. Thank you for encouraging me to give this place a chance.
I've made incredible friends from so many different places, just like you said I would. These people have become my family, my home away from home, and just like I couldn't imagine leaving you four years ago, I can't imagine leaving them soon. My friends have picked me up when I was down and made me laugh until I cried. You hoped I would make lots of real friends and I did. They helped me become more confident and break out of my shell.
I'm graduating with a degree that really makes me happy, just like you wanted me to. I'm not afraid of being stuck in a job that makes me miserable - I'm confident that I'll be able to make a career for myself doing exactly what I want. I've been studying something I love and I can't wait to have a degree I'm proud of. Thank you for always supporting me, even when I didn't know what I wanted to do.
Thank you for letting me call you any time to laugh or complain or cry. Thank you for listening to me talk the entire car ride home before I could drive myself to and from school. I know my stories weren't always interesting (looking back, I'm not really sure how you put up with half of them), but you never interrupted me or told me to stop.
Thank you for encouraging me to move away from home and give me the chance to learn how to be my own person. Thank you for teaching me how to do laundry because I know too many people who didn't know how. I was not one of those embarrassing people.
Thank you for teaching me the value of my money, but more importantly my time. It's difficult to know who and what deserves your time, but you've always helped me see what's important.
Most of all, thank you for making sacrifices for me. School is expensive, picking me up takes time, moving in and out of dorm rooms and apartments was frustrating (especially when you only get one elevator trip) but you always wanted to do what was best for me and I can never thank you enough for that.
I love you, can't wait to walk the stage, accept my diploma, and make you proud.
