College.
You move in, you go to class (well... most of the time), and then you graduate. It can seem dull, it can seem repetitive, yet it deserves the biggest "thank you."
Thank you for giving me so many opportunities and opening so many doors.
I have soooooooo many things in which I could thank you for. So thank you, my beloved school, for these 5 things:
1. For becoming part of who I am
Thank you for the school spirit that these days spent at college have ingrained in me. Every sporting event, the school colors, the team mascot, the different social and academic clubs, etc. have all become part of my DNA. I can remember every single word of the fight song, and every single time that I see somebody off campus reppin' my university's logo, your best bet is that I am chanting our catch phrase at the top of my lungs.
2. For introducing me to my best friends
Thank you for allowing me to meet some of the most interesting, intelligent, and versatile people that I have ever come into contact with. From the athletes to pre-Med students, the long-time graduate students to the anxious freshmen, the hometown hero to the girl from across the Atlantic, thank you for introducing me to so many different personalities to meet and grow with. Thank you for the memories I have created with these diverse people that I would have never met without the commonality that is you.
3. For investing in your students
Thank you for having faculty and staff that are completely devoted to student growth and success. Thank you for making each and every student feel important, cared for, and part of the school's identity. There is a club, an honors society, or an intramural team for every student of every gender, race, and nationality. Thank you for cultivating a culture of inclusion and thank you for radiating positivity to each student.
4. For broadening my perspectives
Thank you for getting me COMPLETELY out of my comfort zone. Thank you for allowing the people I've met and the classes I've taken to challenge me to examine situations from a different angle. Encountering so many different people with a variety of talents, dreams, and futures has helped me fully understand the beauty of diversity, this university just being a snapshot of the entire world.
5. For being my home away from home
Thank you for making this bustling college town feel small enough to call my second home. Being away from home is never easy, no matter if you are 30 minutes or eight hours away. But thank you for creating an environment that fosters growth and progress. Thank you for allowing us to decorate our rooms and continuously eat at the Chick-Fil-A on campus as a way to make it feel like home (because what is more home-y than fried chicken!!!)
They say that home is where the heart is, and my heart definitely rests in my university.
