I was texting my mother the other day while hanging out with all of my friends, they all screamed to tell her "hi Mom" and she immediately stated she could not wait to see them. I asked what made them so special in her life, they are just her daughter's college friends, but what she said next made me think. "They take care of you when I am too far away to do so". I had never looked at it like that. But it is true, these people who I spend my life with now take care of me when my biological family is three states away.

So to my college friends, who became family - this one is for you.

First and foremost like most letters I write I will start with thank you's. When I first got to college I made some friends, but I never really had the feeling they would be in my life for the long run. So thank you for being friends I can see in my life forever. Thank you for listening to my rants about everything; homework, family, and school in general. Thank you for knowing how to make me laugh through every low that has occurred. Thank you for playing Wii until all hours of the night and making everything a friendly competition. Thank you for jamming out in the car to all the throwbacks that filled our childhood. Thank you for encouraging my dreams and goals in life. Thank you for understanding and caring about my past but looking forward to the future with me. Thank you for loving me and giving me the support I was so scared not to have, as home was five hours away.

And most importantly thank you for so easily becoming my unbiological family.

Next, I want to say that I cannot wait to see where our futures bring us. I know that through everything and anything at the end of the day my college stories will be filled with your names. I know that someday when I am telling my kids about the stupid things we did, the stressful nights and the best people in my life your names will be in the story. I love watching all of you become who you are and who you want to be; achieving goals that you have had since you were a little kid. You all encourage me to be a better person and you all make me so glad I chose this school and this path. I hope someday we are all at one of our houses reminiscing on the college days with some wine and fancy dinners; that's what old people do, right?

Lastly, I just want to say I am in awe over every single one of you. You have all made my life easier, better and definitely more fun. You all have taught me that being myself is the only thing anyone can ever ask and that having a weird side is absolutely encouraged. You have all impacted me in so many ways, and no amount of anything could ever repay you. But thank you all for becoming my unbiological family; I am so lucky you did.