Bonus points if you get the song reference, but in all seriousness, there comes a point in anyone’s life where we have to say goodbye to someone, whether that be from death, relocation, graduation, or even just saying bye on a daily basis when you’ve finished having a conversation with someone and need to go somewhere. The worst part about it is it never gets easier no matter how many times we say it. As a spring semester senior in college, I’m about to do one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, say goodbye to all of the people I’ve come to know and love.

As a new freshman at Lycoming, I had no idea what kind of life changing transformation I would go through in such a short time. I originally was just a very hesitant, awkward child that had no real sense of self-identity. I firmly believe that if you are unapologetically yourself, the right people will find their way into your life, but how do you that if you don’t know who you are? It took time, persistence, and finding some of the right people without knowing they were truly the right people to really find out who I was and then the rest came naturally. The problem then became, “Oh god I’m a senior and I have to leave soon. What do I do?” Granted, I don’t really have a full answer yet, it’s a work in progress that I won’t really know entirely until it’s already happening or happened.

The most obvious thing to turn to would be the countless number of movies, TV shows, and songs that talk about this issue that usually revolve around something like, “We’re not really saying goodbye. It’s more of a ‘see you later’,” or “The ones we love never really leave us.” While that sounds great in principle, putting into action is exceedingly difficult. I’m extremely thankful for things like social media and the internet that allow us to keep in touch with people so easily, but it’s just not quite the same as being able to run up to someone and hug them and talk about whatever tickles your fancy at that moment. I mean, how does one even begin to cope with not being able to see some of the most treasured people and just enjoy their presence in your life? I’m sure new friends will come along, but the people I have right now have made me into who I am today. To deny them would be like saying parts of my life just never happened, but I don’t think I can bear having to leave them.

I guess this is all part of growing up but it doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to get easier. It was somewhat hard in high school, but it’s going to be more difficult this time around because I’ve made more lasting relationships with all of the beautiful people that have come into my life these past four years. I want to say it’ll be alright, and I’m sure to some extent it will be. I just wish there was a way to make it not hurt as much. I’m sure this separation will make our reunion that much more special, but how does one survive the separation? Maybe we never truly do. I’d like to think it’s possible, but only time will tell I suppose.