There are so many things in life to be thankful for. One of the greatest things that people tend to take advantage of is their college/university. I owe a plethora of my success and current leadership skills to my university and to everyone who has helped me along the way. There aren't enough words to express my gratitude, but I'll try my best.

To my University,

Knowing that my time here is quickly coming to an end has thrown me into a time of thoughtful reflection. I don't know who I would be if I wasn't a student here. I, like many other students, had numerous options when it came down to where to attend college. Deciding to spend four years of my life in a city 160 miles away from a place I had just started to call "home" could have gone a million kinds of wrong. Thankfully, it turned out to be just what I needed and then some.

When I started as a freshman, I didn't know who I wanted to be. I didn't know what I wanted to with my time here or with my life in general. So much has changed since then. Everyone I am about to mention and thank is part of my journey as a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. They have all contributed to the leader that I am today.

Thank you to my friends.

You guys are the ones that encourage and support me 100% of the time. Even if you may not agree with me, you always work your best to give me wonderful advice and be by my side no matter what. Thank you for all the late nights studying together, for holding my hand during the mental breakdowns, and for always being down for Sonic or late night snacks. You mean the world to me and I am so thankful we all ended up at the same university.

Thank you to my professors.

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You have always treated me with respect and kindness. You're understanding and thoughtful and I am so lucky that I am more than a number to you. You know my name and my face, along with my accomplishments, struggles, and hardships. Thank you for forcing me to step out of my comfort zone. My grade literally depended on it at times. However, you always went above and beyond for me and taught me that I should never doubt myself.

Thank you to my organizations.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me to grow. From my sorority to the Peer Mentor program to the religious organizations I am involved in- you have all pushed me to become better than who I was. If it weren't for my organizations, I might have given up. I might have moved back home when things got hard. Thankfully, I planted my roots here and I wasn't going down without a fight, thanks to them.

Thank you to those who challenge me.

For all those who don't believe in me or try their best to knock me down... thank you. You are so little in number, but I need to acknowledge you too because you're a part of my life that has indirectly made me a stronger and better person. You were the small voice in my life that told me "I can't." Thankfully, I had plenty more people shouting at me that I can and I will.

Thank you to my advisors.

You're more than the advisor to an organization I'm a member of- you're a friend, a mentor, a counselor, and so much more. I look up to you more than I could ever express to you. I am so thankful to have such amazing people in my life to look up to. Every advice-giving moment and laughter-filled moment shared will forever be cherished.

Thank you to my fellow students.

This university wouldn't be this university without you. What I love most is the strangers that compliment my outfit, my hair, my smile, anything. You find a way to brighten my day every day. It's hard for me to put myself out there sometimes and say something simply kind to someone on campus that I may not know, but I know how it makes me feel so I try my best to pay it forward. There's a reason why I always have a smile on my face- it's because I love being here. I deserve to be here. You all make this university and this city home.

Thank you, thank you, thank you times a million. I truly love and appreciate you all so much.

Sincerely,

a woman who has become a better person because of you.