This time of the year always has me feeling a little extra thankful. There's just something about this season -- sitting around a table with your loved ones sharing a meal, Christmas lights and decorations everywhere, and the cold weather to remind me how thankful I am to have a roof over my head, food on the table, and a warm bed to sleep in at night. I believe that it is important to practice gratitude as a way of living, and this semester, I am extra grateful for my best friends, who have truly stood by me through thick and thin.

Dear friends,

I can't believe that the semester is nearly over, and we are soon to be second semester sophomores in college. The fact that we are almost halfway done with college is both terrifying and exciting. I can truly say that y'all coming into my life freshman year is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I don't know where I would be today without such an outstanding group of girls who always manage to make me laugh, lift me up and give me such good advice (even when it's tough love).

The "sophomore slump" has been all too real this semester for all of us, but it has been hard in a different way for me. Attempting to keep up my perfect girl ruse, all while dealing with lingering grief and a major heartbreak, sent me crashing down to nearly rock bottom. Thank you for drying my tears, letting me know I wasn't alone and helping lift a little of the weight off my shoulders. It takes true friends to stick with you during the toughest of tough times.

I know I've been a little extra hard to love this semester, but y'all stuck with me, and for that, I am forever grateful. So from me to you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thanks for taking me to Sheetz at 12:30 a.m. because it was decided that I must try a Fastbreak bar.

Thanks for quite literally being shoulders to cry on.

For writing me a list of reasons to love myself when I couldn't, thank you.

For giving me honest advice, even when it is hard to hear, thank you.

For being patient with me.

For not judging me when I couldn't make it to class.

For loving all of me, even when I wasn't cheery or the most fun person to be around.

For being my forever friends.

In the words of one of my favorite authors, Sarah Dessen, "Life is an awful, ugly place not to have a best friend." Thank y'all for being lights in my life, and for making my world and the world around you a much better place.

Just as you have been here for me, I am always here for you. My shoulder is always available to cry on. There is never a problem that is inconvenient, stupid, too big or too little. After all, that's what friends are for.

Here's to two years worth of more movie nights, Sheetz runs, midnight heart-to-hearts, laughing over silly things and sending ridiculous group messages. I couldn't do college or life without y'all.

Now let's go ace those exams and pretend that college isn't almost halfway over.

I'm thankful for y'all today and every day.

Love,

Your forever friend

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." -- A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh