To the college friends who became family,
As my college days draw to a close, the time is coming when I will return home to live with my real family for a bit, while I figure out my adult life. But I don't want to leave this place without thanking you, the people who have been my family for the last four years.
Thank you for helping me grow up.
There's so many who took my freshman self under their wings. I was scared to death and didn't know a soul at my college. But you took me in and helped as I fumbled through my first year (or two), brought me out of my shell, guided me toward a sorority I'd fall in love with and loved me when I was much less than lovable. I don't know if I'd have created the many relationships here that I have without you first teaching me how friendship should work.
Thank you for accepting me for who I am.
When you signed on for being my friend, you took the bad with the good. You willingly took on the weird, the guarded, the crazy, the moody and oftentimes, the downright mean that comes with my personality. You didn't run from the things that made me difficult; you simply saw through them to the good.
Thank you for having fun with me.
Sometimes, college has gotten a little too stressful. Thank you for knowing when I'm tired of being academic and having fun with me instead. Thank you for Taco Bell trips, living room Zumba, constant crafting, porch sitting, movie marathons and study dates that are more laughing than studying. These are memories I will cherish for my whole life.
Thank you for being there for the worst of it.
There are days in everyone's college years where they wish they could just be with their families, and it's simply not possible when you live far away. Thank you for filling in as family for the things I couldn't have gotten through alone. Through crises about what I was doing with my life, through ugly break-ups, through fights with other friends, through failed tests and everything in between, there has always been somebody in my corner. For that I am forever grateful.
Thank you for making my final semester so wonderful.
These last few months have been an emotional roller coaster. I've been stressing over jobs, and where I'll live, and what I'll do for this next year, the next five and the rest of my life. But you've been there for support and for fun through it all. Thank you to the old friends who have made sure to spend extra time with me while we can. It's the perfect end to years of life spent together. Thank you to the new friends I didn't know I needed in the final weeks of my college career. I didn't plan on you, but you were just the boost I needed to get through it all. To all of you, thank you for reminding me in these last few months why this place will always be my second home.
You've done more for me than you will ever know.
As I walk across the graduation stage in only a few more days, I will walk with the pride of four years well spent and with the knowledge that I couldn't have done it without you all. Thank you for the support, the advice, the shoulders to cry on, the fights, the adventures, the new experiences, the confidence and the unwavering love on the good days and the bad. When I think of family, I still think of my parents and relatives, but now I'll think of you too.
