I started the school year with the same fear as everyone else. I wasn't sure who I would be friends with, or if I even would make friends. I moved here away from all of my friends from high school, and I knew I was going to be presented with a wealth of opportunities. For the first time in my life, I would be making friendships that were not based on proximity. I've met people from all across the country, and even a few from other countries. We are friends because we want to be, not because we have to be.

Hey, guys. Thanks for genuinely caring about who I am and where I came from. We made it past the formal handshakes and greetings. We made it past the awkward lunches where the only thing to fill the silence was a series of lackluster questions. I've shared a lot about myself with y'all, and I'm thankful that our friendships aren't superficial. I know I've only known most of you for a few months, but I still consider each one of you family. Living on this small campus together has given us a bond that I'll always be thankful for. I'm not the same person I was before I got here, so that means my relationships with my friends here at college are the first of their kind. I hope that I'm a better friend now than I was in high school. Thanks for accepting me as I am.

Thanks for suffering with me. Classes are tough, but having people I enjoy in there with me helps me get through. You guys keep me entertained, so the hours we spend sitting in lectures go by a lot quicker. I've received help and reminders about school work from y'all, and I definitely needed it. Also, sometimes the food here isn't the best. I'm glad we can experience that as a team. We are all here together, so we share in the negatives. We get through it together.

Thanks for making me laugh. You guys are some of the funniest people I've ever met. Between the asinine things you say, odd things you do, and terrible selfies you send me, you keep me laughing all the time. I really appreciate it and need it more than you realize. I may not always understand what is going on in the group message, but I'm glad I get to be a part of it. We've meshed really well over the past months.

Thanks for exploring with me. We've done a lot together from days on the beach to midnight bowling to impromptu trips to an art gallery. I'm going to miss you a lot over the summer as we all head back to our different corners. I'll think about our journeys together and what is to come. We have fun stories, and a lot of time to make more. One day in the future, I'll tell my kids about our adventures and how legendary y'all are.

Most importantly, thanks for making me better. You are all amazing people. You help keep me on the right track with God, myself, and everyone else. Watching you excel in each of your own areas gives me the motivation to be better in whatever I try to do. Y'all help me deal with a lot. I never planned to spill a lot of personal problems, but we've had a few late-night "tell-all's." We've shared things from childhood stories heart-breaks, how God has been working in our lives, why we ended up here, and very-very personal topics. I'm grateful that we have that comfort.

Getting thrown into something as new and immersive as college, we were left with no option other than being ourselves. We came together because of that and have grown together very quickly. Thanks for this past year of excitement. I'm looking forward to more.