To the first boy to catch my eye in college:

I spent my time in high school with my girlfriends, at Friday night sporting events, attending every school dance, getting good grades, along with the occasional fling with a boy every once in a while. I was never the girl to settle down and date someone for a long period of time, because quite frankly, that’s not what I wanted. Actually, I knew exactly what I wanted and I knew that I wasn’t going to find it in high school. Coming to college was bound to be full of new beginnings. I figured that I would take my good ole time settling in and making friends. Never in a million years did I expect to find someone like you. It may have taken a long time to find someone like you, but 18 years later…I did.

You were worth the wait.

Having “high standards” is oftentimes something that girls get judged for. Settling for less than what I wanted and less than what I deserved was something I refused to do. Once I met you, I knew that my life was about to change in a huge way. You are everything I have ever wanted and dreamed of.

You have helped me stop being too independent.

Not having a serious boyfriend prior to coming to college, I had a lot of “me time”. I learned many ways to do many things with little to no help from anyone. I hung out by myself, carried my own bags, opened my own car door, and even took myself on the occasional date. I have learned that there is a time and a place to be independent. Thank you for being the chivalrous gentleman that you are.

Sleepovers are the best.

Meeting you in college almost guaranteed a long distance relationship while at home. Never in a million lifetimes did I even think about having a sleepover with a boy I was in love with…until you. And even then, you and I both knew our parents would be skeptical. I am glad we get to share each other’s favorite family meals and late night television marathons. However, I am glad I get to see you with messy hair and blanket indents on your face.

You are the best dining hall date ever.

There is not one other person I would rather spend all of my 2 hours a day of free time with, no one else I would rather eat every meal with (despite the crappy food), no one else I would rather walk to class with, study for exams with, go to the gym, or run errands with.

Thank you for letting me dream.

Even though I get to live a dream every single day, you being by my side, I also have the habit of planning for years and years down the road. I love to dream about a huge house on the hill, with a steady job in a field that I love, with a big happy family that you are a part of. I know it drives you crazy and I know you say “live in the moment” but I cannot help but think of how great my future looks. So thank you for letting me tell you my wish list for the future and for even sometimes including a thing or two that you want your future to include.

I’m glad you have a plan.

We are at that point in our lives where tomorrow comes faster with every passing minute. I am so glad that my right-hand man has a concrete idea about what the future looks like. Being in college, pursuing a career, with an idea of what the future will bring has never been so comforting. I am so glad that I have someone with a good head on their shoulders to make strives to be a better person every day. You have inspired me to motivate myself and I am so happy to think that you are a part of my future plans.

There is no one else I would rather venture with.

I am so happy that you are the one I get to try new things with, go on adventures with, and learn with. Having met you during the adventure of college, you and I have yet to stop going, seeing and doing. And I love you for that.

Thank you for letting me be me.

College truly is the time to find yourself. I am nowhere close to the person I was coming into freshman year. There is no one else that I would rather have by my side as I discover myself and become the grown up I have always dreamed up being. Change has never been something I got along with, but having you to love me through is all I could ever ask.