I’m not sure what I would do without you guys. Three years ago, I never would’ve expected to have such a loyal, beautiful, genuine, intelligent group of friends around me. We’ve all grown up so much together and I can honestly say you all have made me a better person, each in your own way.

Whether it was how to manage my time better, or how to not care what other people think, how to look on the bright side of everything, how to have fun no matter the setting, how to not let every little thing stress me out, how to be myself unapologetically, how to do adult things the right way like laundry or buying groceries, or how to drink a whole bottle of wine and still function; these are all things I learned from you guys.

When we all moved away for college, I don’t think we all realized how much we were going to have to grow up in such a short amount of time but I don’t think we could do it without each other to lean on — especially in those times when we have no idea what we’re doing with our lives. It gets tough sometimes but it’s so rewarding to know we all support each other no matter what.

Every single one of you has had an impact on my life and deserves a thank you.

So,

Thank you.

Thank you for all the times I’ve needed someone and you were there. For all the times I just needed to vent and you listened. Or when none of us could be alone so we spent all Sunday together doing absolutely nothing following the list of lazy Sunday rules.

Thank you for making me laugh uncontrollably. Thank you for driving around, blasting music, with the windows down, with no destination in mind. Thank you for staying in and doing homework with me. Thank you for letting me borrow your clothes. Thank you for our eventful pre-games. Thank you for playing Catchphrase until 2 a.m. on a Saturday night. Thank you for cheering me up with margaritas when I know you had other things to do.

Thank you for ordering Dominoes with me at 2 a.m. Thank you for weekend trips to see the Tide play. Thank you for making me get up every morning of a game day weekend. Thank you for roomie cuddles. Thank you for calling me out when I need it. Thank you for porch sitting in the middle of the day. Thank you for letting your family take me in on parent’s weekend when my own couldn’t make it. Thank you for long heart to hearts. Thank you for a much-needed lake weekend full of laughs.

Thank you for letting me third wheel at date parties when I go alone. Thank you for always dancing with me no matter the setting.

Thank you for making life fun.

And thank you for keeping me grounded.

But most importantly, thank you for being my family away from home.