Going into my last first day of school, I begin to realize that I'm going to miss Central Michigan more than I could ever imagine. It's funny how much has changed since I was a freshman. Three years ago I was counting down the days till I could see my family or go home—I thought going away to college was the biggest mistake I ever made. Now, as a senior, I spent the summer at school, and I never want this next year to come to an end.

From day one, I've always said that CMU has provided me with everything I needed in a college: academics, athletics, and a beautiful campus. But I truly think that I took CMU for granted my first year. Although being six hours away from home induced quite a bit of homesickness, I felt that it caused me to look for the worst in everything. I hated my classes, I didn't join any clubs, and I loved hanging out by myself.

It's amazing how much has changed since then. Since then, I have created a relationship with CMU that is everlasting. I'm a big city suburbanite that fell in love with a small college town. I fell in love with the little greasy spoons, with the way the campus looks when the leaves change colors, the people I've met, the college, and myself.

Central Michigan truly does have everything to offer—not only for me, but for any student that has the chance to come through the university. Between the abundance of majors and minors to study, the numerous clubs and organizations, Division 1 Athletics, the college town and the nightlife; there's no place like Mt. Pleasant and it's sad that it took me a year to realize it.

There is truly no time in your life like college, and I'm going to miss that the most. There have been so many times within the past two weeks that I've thought to myself, "Man, I'm going to miss this." It has made me come to realize that there's going to be very few times in my life when I can live and hang out with my best friends, order pizza at 2 a.m. without a care in the world, and be an adult... without actually having to be an adult.

I have one year left. One year. The thought of having to become an actual adult in this big world is unarguably scary, and I can already tell that I'm going to miss the experiences Central Michigan has provided me.

So, thank you CMU—I miss you already.

I couldn't image my four years anywhere else.