To my dear friends:

So it's official: you've done it! You got your degree!

The struggles, overwhelming assignments, exams, and difficult professors are behind you now. These past few years in your academic career have finally come to a close, and you can take a deep breath and relax, even if it is just for a little while.

As your friend, who has been a part of this crazy journey with you, I am so proud that you have achieved this incredible accomplishment.

On graduation day, I will be sitting in the stands cheering you on, probably almost as loud as your family. I will watch you walk across that stage and get your diploma, and I will give you the biggest hug I could possibly give you when it's over.

That being said, I'm going to miss you.

I've still got a little bit of time left in school, and you are going to go off and start living out your life. You are going to start using your degree and doing incredible things, potentially changing the lives of people around you. I can't wait to see what you accomplish.

I hope even when you go out there in the world, you'll keep in touch. It's going to be so sad for me that you won't be here every day anymore to talk to about my crazy day and for you to tell me all about yours. I'll miss our late night philosophical talks about life and where we're headed, our 3 a.m. convenience store runs, and all the laughs we shared when we would go out and do something absolutely ridiculous (like doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe in the back of a Denny's after a scavenger hunt through Walmart).

Our crazy adventures together are going to become memories, and we'll be reduced to talking to each other through texts, phone calls, and our different social media accounts.

I hope that you'll come back and visit when you have time. I know that you will be very busy being a successful adult, but it would be nice to see your face every once in a while.

I also hope that you'll be able to come back and watch me walk across the stage as I get my diploma, just as I will be there for you.

I want you to know something: no matter how far apart our lives will take us, you have made such an impact on my life, and I can't imagine what it would be like without you in it.

Thank you for all that you have done for me, and I hope someday I can repay you. Even though I'll miss you, I hope you go out into the world and find your place, and I hope that I'll be there with you to watch you do it all.

I want to leave you with this quote from Henry David Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Congratulations.

I'll see you soon.

With all my love,

Your fellow goofball-in-crime, your cheerleader, your friend.