Everyone says college is the best four years of your life. They're right.

Tonight is my last night at Endicott. It is the last time I will go to Brindle 423 to get ready for bed. The last time I will have all of my best friends, who started out as strangers, across the hall from me. It is the last time I will walk into the common room.

The very first floor meeting we had was awkward, no one knew each other, and everything was still so new. We congregated in the common room and I took a seat on one of the couches. I looked at the girl next to me, her name is Aly, and said "these are so comfy. I'm going to spend a lot of time sitting on these". Little did I know how much time I would actually spend. The countless movie nights, 3 am talks, dance parties, venting sessions, studying/homework, and friendships I made in that room are innumerable. Brindle Hall was my second choice, but I am so lucky and so grateful I was placed there. I have met friends who became family. I have laughed, cried, danced, ran, slept, and truly lived in this building. The view is what made me choose Brindle, and I am going to miss that the most. I am going to miss getting distracted from doing my homework by the waves and the birds. I am going to miss watching the sunrise and the sunset all from the grandiose windows. I am going to miss seeing the sailboats float by and not being able to help but think of Reid. I am going to miss watching thunder and snow storms over the ocean, and finding my zen and inspiration through those glass panes.

I am going to miss hearing people laugh and sing in the hallways and stairwell. I am going to miss walking down the hall and seeing several familiar faces, all with warm "hello's" "Goodnight, I love you's" and "meet ya in the common room". I'm going to miss the shower parties where five of us took up every stall and blasted our favorite songs. I am going to miss everything.

My freshman year flew by but was packed with memories. I am so fortunate to have older siblings who showed me that college flies by, and I need to embrace and relish in every moment. I did not take one second for granted - including this one. I am alone in the common room, a rare occurrence. I just got the urge to write, so here I am, crafting my last article of the school year. What a year it's been.

College has shown me so much. I have met people from all over: people from big and small families, people who have traveled the world, and people who have never left their state. I am so lucky to have found myself here at Endicott. I am so lucky to have been randomly put on this floor in room 423. I am so lucky to have met the people I did. I am so lucky to be where I am; who I am.

I always say this experience has been very serendipitous. The little chances that went one way ended up being the best experiences. I thank God for bringing me here.

I thought back to the very first night when the campus was filled with tears of freshman who missed home, their parents, their bed, and who didn't know what the future will hold. Tonight, the campus is filled with tears from everyone. From the seniors saying goodbye for the last time to the freshman who just got here, and now have to say goodbye to the people who have been family for them for months. It came full circle. It always comes full circle.

Though I am elated to see my family, to be home, and to start my summer vacation, it is not without teary eyes and a sore heart that I make my trek home. This is going to be the toughest night by far. Saying goodbye to my friends was more difficult than I thought. We know we will see each other this summer and next year, but it just isn't the same. It will never be the same. Nothing compares to freshman year. Nothing compares to college.

This isn't goodbye, it's see you soon. Thanks for the memories.