As my first year of college is coming to a close, I’ve found myself engaging in many corny, cliched moments of reflection. Thus far, the college has been a time for new experiences, new friends, personal growth, new opportunities, and challenges. During my first year of college, I started writing for The Odyssey Online. Since Odyssey writers seem to be virtually obligated to write at least one open letter, I decided to knock out my duty to do so and write a series of mini open letters to all the people and things that made my first year at college a year of growth.

To my best friends from High School:

During the summer, before we started college, we constantly talked about what it would be like to spend a year apart. Before we all moved out, we wrote sappy letters to one another, cried during Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and savored every moment we had together before we went our separate ways in the pursuit of education.

I was petrified of change. I didn’t want to make friends, and I didn’t want to be replaced in your hearts. In college, we wouldn’t get to spend free periods in the library together, we wouldn’t drive through the suburbs blasting trashy One Direction music, and we wouldn’t get to wake up early to see the sunrise over the water together like we had in high school. I worried that college would make us drift apart, and I’m so happy to say that I was wrong.

Throughout the year, we kept up communication just like I hoped we would. We texted in group chats, skyped, and even traveled to visit each other. I listened eagerly as you told me about Greek life recruitment, formals, and plays you were starring in. I wasn’t able to spend every moment watching horror movies and eating diner food with you like I would’ve liked, but I got to hear about your friends and your drunken nights. I proudly watched you succeed, and I longed to hug you when you went through some of your toughest times. Though you were miles away, you warned me not to talk to strangers on tinder, and you took my calls when I was convinced that there was a mouse in my radiator. This year showed me that our bond cannot be destroyed by something as trivial as proximity. You taught me that you don’t need to be geographically close to someone to love and care about them. I can’t wait for you guys to come home, and I’m so proud to call you my best friends.

To my new College friends:

Some of the most amazing experiences of my life so far have been spent with you guys. When we met, I was intimidated by some of you. You were fearless, fiercely independent, artistic, confident, proficient in the study of memes, and unlike anyone I had ever met. Although I was hesitant to make friends at the beginning of the year, all it took was some bonding over musicals for us to connect.

You all inspire me to be a better version of myself. You’ve lent me money for dollar pizza, given me, your jean jackets, ran to CVS with me at midnight to buy roach traps, and dealt with my midday calls with questions about how the subways/buses/avenues work. You’ve made me feel supported, and you’ve also (gently) mocked me for being flaky with making plans. We’ve sung Beyonce and Hamilton at the top of our lungs, we’ve complained about dorm life, and we’ve created way too many inside jokes. I can always count on you guys to accompany me to Chipotle or make me laugh out loud with your messages in our group chat. At the beginning of the year, I was worried about feeling lonely in a big city, but you guys have made me feel at home. I can’t wait for more wonderful years spent with you guys.

To the Roaches that lived in my dorm for a week:

You were assholes and I don’t miss you at all. You taught me very little but helped me get over any hesitation I had to slaughter bugs, so that’s something I guess.

To my parents:

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live in this amazing city. You’ve calmly talked me down when I’ve called you in a frenzy about anything and everything, and you encouraged me to make friends the first week of school when all I wanted was to stay in my room and mourn the end of high school. You’ve given me love, support, wisdom, and access to your Netflix account. You’ve put aside your anxieties about my living in the city so I could be free and independent. You’ve even (mostly) withheld judgment when you saw the messy state of my room in our Facetime calls. I’m so appreciative of you, now and forever, and you guys are the reason I’m able to live out my dream of going to school in the city. I am so lucky to have two people who are always in my corner, and I love you both so much.

To the Halal cart on the corner:

You’ve been so good to me when I’ve been too lazy to walk just slightly further to the nearby grocery store. Thank you for blessing me with $4 falafel at literally any hour of the day.

In this past school year, you’ve all helped me immensely to find myself, learn more about the world, and start my journey into adulthood. This year was one of the greatest years of my life, and I owe that to you. Thank you all, except the roaches, for everything.

Sincerely,