I just wanted to thank you all. As I get older, I’m a lot more reflective than ever. My mind is always racing with memories, thoughts, and feelings from the past four years (and actually even the previous four in high school). I can finally, finally, say that I am so truly happy with my life, and so truly happy with who I have become, and who do I have to thank for that? My friends (and family but that’s another article for another time).

1. I want to thank you for keeping me smiling. I love smiling, and I love laughing, and I have done nothing but that since my time here in college. I honestly think I had to have shed a few pounds from working my abs laughing so hard (of course I put those pounds back on turning 21 with you all but, regardless). My cheeks are never not sore. And even if I am sad, having a mental breakdown, crying, or angry, you all have ensured that that lasts about 10 minutes until I’m crying from laughter instead. On my worst days, the second I see you I light up and you instantly allow me to breathe and make my day better. Thank you for being the reason behind my smile.
   
2. I want to thank you for keeping my heart warm. As corny as that may sound, I constantly feel warm whenever I see you guys on campus, or when I daydream and think about how blessed my life is. The thought of having such good friends makes me so happy and warm inside, and it’s such a wonderful, comforting, irreplaceable feeling.
   
3. I want to thank you for letting me learn through you. I’ve watched you guys go through so much in the past few years, and have been so grateful that you open up to me, and allow me to help along the way - not only helping you, but learning for myself as well. I’ve watched you fall in and out of love, I’ve watched you fight with family, with close friends, I’ve watched you at your weakest, and I’ve watched you at your strongest. Allowing me into your life and allowing to be there by your side during this period of time has taught me so, so much and I couldn’t be more thankful.
   
4. Thank you for the support, the motivation, and the advice. This is a huge one. Without all of you, I wouldn’t be half the person I am now. The support has been never ending, whether it be in school, work, relationships, etc., you all have always always always been in full support of me no matter what. The motivation has helped me better myself in ways I could’ve never imagined. Many times in college I would’ve given anything to give up, to just settle, or to quit, but you guys never ever let me. You force me to go to my 8am’s. You study with me. You go to the gym and yoga with me. You make me talk to the nice boys, and you basically force the bad ones out for me. You push me to fix any problems in my life, and you give me perfect advice along the way. Life is a constant cycle of two steps forward, one step back, and when I fall that step back, you guys are the reason I am able to take two steps forward again.
   
5. Most importantly, I want to thank you for loving me. I went through a rough patch for a few years, and loving myself was the most difficult thing to do, I officially hit rock bottom. But little did I know over these past few years, you were all slowly pulling me off the ground. Trust me, I know I’m a little difficult to love sometimes, but no matter what, you guys loved me. And for that, I owe you my life.

The things that you guys have done for me in the past few years will take a lifetime and more to pay back to you. So I hope that you know that I will try every second of every day to make it up to you, because you all truly saved me. I hope I can be even half as good of friends as you all are, because you deserve the world and more. I am now more excited for the future than ever, because with you all as my friends, nothing is impossible, and life is just getting better by the second.

"Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don't see it yourself."