My four years at college have taught me a lot. Not just in the academic sense--actually, when I think about the past almost four years, classes aren't the first things that pop into my mind. My majors have taught me a lot, and my writing major specifically has helped me figure out what I want to do with my life.

But when I think about my experience at Ithaca College, I think about the people who shaped my years here, the person I've become, and of course the town of Ithaca itself.

Everyone has a school that's just right for them and I was so lucky to find the school that was perfect for me. It's like finding the love of your life, except you can skip out after four years and not feel bad about it.

Ithaca, New York is my favorite place in the world. Yeah, we complain about the long winters and the snow, but I think if it had perfect weather all year round, so many people would want to live there it would be chaos. I have never found a more welcoming, lively, and cultured place, and I am so thankful to have lived there for three and some years.

I never thought I was going to be able to live in a big city. I studied abroad in Rome and the constant traffic, tourism, and noise deterred me from ever wanting to live anywhere with a dense population. But over fall break I visited Boston, and after I spent a couple of days weaving through the streets, going to new bars, and keeping all my belongings painfully organized in a very tiny apartment, I decided that city life is exactly what my early to mid-twenties need to be surrounded by.

Ithaca is still my favorite place. But staying in one place isn't really what Ithaca's about. This town, this college, any my peers have all taught me to embrace new experiences, places, and people. And I'm finally ready to leave behind the college and the town that has been so good to me. I imagine it's going to feel like leaving an old friend. Sad, but you know you'll see each other again. If you stay tethered to each other for ever, neither of you will grow.

Everyone who has lived in Ithaca knows that it functions as a character in a story does. It contributes to your story--especially if you've stayed in Ithaca for a summer or two. There's a magical feeling in the summer that makes you feel like you truly belong there, and that you really weren't meant to do anything except swim in its gorges all day.

And to the friends I've made and met in Ithaca--you have all taught me such valuable lessons. Whether they were hard or easy ones, I appreciate all of them. The triumphs, the setbacks, the happiness and the pain, they have all made me who I am today: someone who is ready to take on a new city.

I still have one more semester until I graduate. If you're a writing major, you'll probably see me in Smiddy. If not, you'll probably hear me complaining about how far away all of the parking lots are from Smiddy.

Thank you to everyone who has weaved their way in and out of my life. I'm happy to kick-start all of the sappy I-can't-believe-we're-graduating-soon messages. I'm doing this purely because I'm a trendsetter (actually just because this is my last Odyssey article) and I wanted to tell everyone how much I love them. I wish you all the best--and I hope you always remember how amazing a place Ithaca is.

May we all move back here when we're old and really show the local retirement homes how to party.