Dear Family,

As much as I love being here at college, getting to experience and study new things all the while figuring out who I am, there is no feeling quite like coming home to the people who I know love me the most. It's a new form of appreciation that I have developed while being away from you; I was so used to being able to walk downstairs or come home and there you all were sitting in the kitchen or in the living room watching TV. I've come to the realization that YOU truly are my best friends, as Dad would say.

Mom- I'm thankful for the new level of mother- daughter friendship that we have reached. I look forward to hearing about your day and telling you every detail of mine during our daily phone calls or texts. Thank you for all your encouragement, love, and weekly cards with $5 in it. Thank you for being the most amazing woman role model in my life and for helping to make me the young woman I am today. You have no idea how much I mean it when I say thank you.

Dad- We may not be in as much or as constant communication as Mom and I am, because that's quite a lot, but I still look forward to the late night texts about work, how the Phillies are doing, or the excessive amount of Bitmojis that you send to me. I love coming home to your big hugs and hearing you call me "boo." Thank you for being the most admirable male role model in my life and thank you for the way you raised me. Just like Mom, I hope you know how much I mean it when I say thank you.

Sister- I am so proud to call you my sister. People always say that we look like twins, and we never believed them, but now I can't help but notice it every time I see you. (Especially now that you are basically surpassing me in height.) You are strong, smart, and absolutely beautiful in your own way. You are always smiling or laughing or filling my shoes by telling a corny joke. I can not wait to get to know, even better, the young lady you are becoming.

Brother- You are becoming such a gentleman. It's hard to believe that you used to be the little brother that played dress up and "house" with me for hours on end or the little brother that always stuck his face so close to the home video camera that we could see up your nose. Now, you're my little brother who is DRIVING and growing up so fast. You have become such a smart, talented, and funny individual and I am so proud to call you my (not so little) brother.

Thank you guys for being my rocks, my go-to people, and my best friends. Life wouldn't be nearly as much fun without you all by my side. I love you! (Shoutout to the pets of the house, too. They keep things interesting for all of us.)