Thank you for being my substitute moms and dads when my actual mom and dad are miles and miles away from our campus. You might think they’re just little gestures, but when you remind me not to stay up too late one night or remind me to eat my meals, it shows that you care about my well-being when I’m too busy or stressed to care about my own well-being. When you tell me to text you and let you know when I’ve made it to my destination, it’s just another way to show that you care. At least I know that I have people who are looking out for me, and that goes a long way.
Thank you for being my human tissues, for literally and metaphorically wiping my tears when I couldn’t hold them back. It’s the best kind of medicine when you engulf me in your arms while assuring me that tomorrow will be a better day. You make it hard to remember why I was crying in the first place when you’re my Neosporin and my bandage.
Thank you for making me laugh. I don’t think I’ve gone a day without laughing while I’m at school, no matter how awful my day has been. I could be in the worse mood, and then I could do a complete 180 and be in the best mood ever. It’s just so easy when I’m with you guys. They say the more you laugh, the longer your life will be. I guess I’m going to live forever then.
Thank you for being the best teachers. You don’t hesitate to stay up with me to study, even though it’s two in the morning and your eyes are red and burning and we swore we were going to give up two hours ago. You’re always so willing to give me an old lab you have or lend me the notes I missed in class or help me with the online homework that I completely forgot about and it's now due in an hour, and you never complain when I’ve asked you to explain the same question for the third time in a row. Your study guides are far better than any PowerPoint that was shown in any lecture that I’ve been to. Thank you for giving me impromptu tutoring sessions and going to actual tutoring sessions with me. And thank you for making sure I go through lab procedures correctly, even though you’re just as confused as I am. To be very honest with you, my grades wouldn’t have been as great if you weren’t there with me.
Not only am I thankful for your teaching skills in regards to our academics, but thank you for teaching me to be a better person. Thank you for teaching me kindness and generosity, traits that are shown when you walk with me to places when I’m scared to go alone or when you offer me your snacks (even though you’re running low on them). Thank you for showing me how to be patient and optimistic, because life can get frustrating at times but you've showed me how to pull through it. Those are only a few things, but it would literally take decades if I wanted to write about every lesson I’ve learned from you guys. I’ve learned something from each and every one of you, whether it’s the big things or just the little things here and there. You’ve shown me what it’s like to be there for someone, to be someone’s lifejacket, and that yes, there are people out there who will support you unconditionally.
For some of you, I met you at college during our freshmen year when we were all confused and timid. For others, we’ve grown up together and anticipated walking down this scary road hand and hand. But no matter how I know you, I am so very thankful to have each and every one of you in my life, and I’m so very lucky to say that you guys have collectively and successfully built a home away from home for me.
