To those that I met second semester,
First semester, I was surrounded by people that I did not connect with. I always felt lonely when I was with my group of friends, I never had conversations that had any intellectual meaning, and I never felt fulfilled after spending hours and hours talking to them. I truly felt like an outsider who had absolutely no idea why I could not be like those who I hung out with when I was just new to this school.
When second semester rolled around, I found you guys. The people from my Japanese class and the guys who I met by chance. You have given me the ability to realize what I had been missing first semester. You have given me the opportunity to feel like I am surrounded by friends and those who support me, even if I am alone, sitting at Starbucks. You have given me the chance to be myself, and not have to be “as white as possible.” I am truly grateful.
I am grateful for the times we spent together every night in the library, creating beds using chairs yet managing to stay up for the entire night until sunrise. Although you messed up my sleep schedule, I am glad I sacrificed it for you. One of you, I only met about two weeks ago, but you have made me feel like me, which was something I couldn’t feel during first semester. Despite the fact that we have known each other for a very short amount of time, I feel like we get each other.
I know I am a lot of work. I am an open book, I speak freely about myself, and maybe I am sometimes a little too nosy. But I’m sorry for not meeting you earlier this year. I feel like I shut myself out of the community because of those that I met the very second I got here. I blame myself for moping over the fact that I could not connect with certain people rather than searching for you guys, searching for those who invite me to lunch after every Japanese class, and the occasional dinners that are a bit more pricey.
Now I also know that all of you are older than I am. You are 3 to 4 years older than me, yet that doesn’t stop you from treating me like one of you guys. You are patient with me and make me laugh. Your humor is just as immature as mine sometimes. However, you also guide me to a better place and make me feel safe whenever I feel terribly alone. Your companionship is the best thing that came out of my second semester and I wish we had more time together, I really do.
As time goes on, I really hope we stay in touch, because you have made my freshman year more bearable. You are like family.
