Dear Mom and Dad,

As all of my boxes start to move from my closet to the back of my car, it's finally hitting me that I'm moving to a different state for the rest of my college career. The months leading up to move in a day were a drag, but then August happened within a blink of an eye. It's going to be weird walking back to my dorm room instead of getting in my car and driving home after classes. It's crazy to think that I won't be seeing you guys everyday. We can both admit that I jumped into the "adult life" quickly and perhaps in the hustle and bustle of all that, you might've thought I didn't notice how you guys prepared me for this.

For the past 20+ years, you guys have worked your butts off to provide food and shelter for Devin, Matthew, and myself. You guys have done everything in your power to make sure we were happy and taken care of. You could tell when I was having a bad day just by how I walked in the front door, and then you knew exactly what to say to fix it. When I was too tired to do my school work after those long musical rehearsals or those awful Taco Bell shifts and just wanted to be the "mediocre uninvolved kid"; you guys would always tell me this was a good way to learn time management, and it was.

The two of you are superhuman, and I'm pretty sure that trait has been passed down to me and for that I thank you. Sure, it's fun to be lazy, but at the same time, I feel the constant need to always be doing something. This is one of my favorite things you guys have taught me because it has helped me tremendously in the workforce which in turn landed me my first shift manager position. The biggest thing you guys need to be thanked for and maybe even awarded for is putting up with me. I know I can be a lot to handle, especially when I was in my early teenage years, but at least you can say there is rarely a dull moment with me.

Being the middle child, but the first to leave the house is a little nerve-wracking. Whether Matthew wants to admit it or not, he looks up to me, so I have to do a good job and set a good example. Don't get me wrong, I've always had to do this, but I feel like it's a bigger responsibility now than it ever was with him just starting his senior year of high school. This could be him this time next year depending on where he ends up going college.

I can't sit here and tell you not to worry, because you guys are parents, it's what you do. I expect to get those "Are you eating enough?" "Are you sleeping enough? "Is your room clean?" "Are you keeping up with your laundry?" texts. Truthfully, the answer to those will most likely be "for the most part." But that's because I have other things to do like staying up all night doing school work and getting an article submitted in a timely fashion.

I essentially typed all of that to say: Some things are going to be different, but I'm only an hour away so I can be home in moment's notice. I'm nervous but ready to see what life is like outside of the house I grew up in. The two of you did a great job raising my brother's and I. I'm confident you guys have given me the skills I need to pursue this next chapter in my life. I promise I won't let you down!

Thank you for always believing in me, always pushing me to be the best person I can be, always being my biggest supporters, and most of all for being my parents.

Love,

Hunter