One of the biggest fears every freshman has when it comes to their first day of college is not about academics or partying, it’s who are you going to get food with multiple times a day? Have study dates with? Vent to when you’re having a rough day or be the first to hear great news about something? Going to college a couple hours away from home and not knowing anyone is hard enough, but going 12 hours partially across the country is terrifying in that aspect alone. I’m from Ohio and go to college in New Hampshire, so I obviously had no idea who I was going to meet, let alone hang out with. Will I find a best friend? Or be that loner in the corner of the dining hall? And then I met them. My squad.

We all met at different times at the beginning of our first semester, but within weeks we started hanging out together more, ate food together, and got to know each other on personal levels. Before I knew it, I found my college best friends. My support system. My dining hall mates. And I wouldn’t trade them for anything. These are the people who have gone on spontaneous road trips with me, have a night in to just hang out, pull an all-nighter to catch up on all our late work, or just be there for one another when we need it. I have made memories with them that will surely last a lifetime.

And now, after ten months of memories and fun, I have to say goodbye for 100 days to go back home for the summer. It’s not fun or easy in any way. They are the one’s that make it bittersweet to go back home. I won’t be able to just barge into their room at midnight and order $5 calzones, take a nap on their floor because their dorm is closer to my next class than mine, or spontaneously go on an adventure. I know I’m going to miss them like crazy, but we all know that we will not be more than a phone call or message away. We have Facebook messenger, our cell phones, Skype, and the old fashion writing letters style. Honestly, we have an endless amount of possibilities to stay connected. It won’t be the same, but getting back into our old routine with work and family will help keep us occupied, and before we know it, summer will fly by, it’ll be August, and we will be annoying each other once again.

But as we prepare for the doom of the “see you in three months” five-hour hug, I just want to thank these guys for everything they have done for me this past year. They were there to celebrate my accomplishments and pick me up when I felt lower than the ground. I wouldn’t have been able to get through my first year in college without them. Being so far away, I never really got to see my own family, and they became my family. Even their own family became my family, always offering us a place to stay for the weekend with real food and dogs. These friends… no, best friends…made college my home away from home, and for that, I can’t thank them enough. It’s not going to be an easy goodbye, but never fear, for we will be reunited before we know it, ready to take on another year of fun and stress. I love you guys. Don’t worry, you’ll be hearing from me a lot over the summer.