When people say that college flies by, they are not wrong. During the past three years I have been able to meet some amazing people through my classes, my church, organizations I am involved in and through mutual friends. I have been able to make so many amazing memories with these people including: late night Walmart runs, spontaneous movie nights and just hanging out on the drill field when the weather is nice.

During this time next week many of these amazing people will be done with college, and I could not be more proud for all that they have been able to accomplish during their time here at the University of North Georgia. I look up to so many of them and I know that they will do amazing things after they walk across that stage on Friday and Saturday. These are the people who have the potential to truly change the world.

During the past three years I have become very close to some of these graduating seniors so I just wanted to tell them thank you.

Thank you for always encouraging me in all that I do. Thank you for always supporting me even if I am unsure about what to do. Thank you for the random Walmart runs when I run out of food. Thank you for the spontaneous movie nights when we have no desire to do any homework. Thank you for all the times we went to get fast food together. Thank you for helping me pass difficult classes. Thank you for all of the advice that you have given to me. Thank you for telling me which classes and professors to avoid and which to take. Thank you for being a shoulder for me to cry on when I needed to let out some emotion. Thank you for making me laugh when I had bad days. Lastly, thank you for being people who I could look up to during the past three years.

I am so proud of all of you, and whether you go to law school, medical school, graduate school, start your own business, or just enter the job field I know that you will be successful in all that you do. I am very glad that our paths crossed during this crazy point of life known as college. I know that I am not the same person I was when I came to college; and part of that is because of you. You have helped me to become a better person. You have helped me to gain more confidence. You have showed me what a leader looks like. You have helped me to see that there are reasons to be positive even during a stressful week. For those reasons I am truly thankful to have known you.

As the song "For Good" from Wicked says:

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good."

Thank you spring class of 2017. Thank you for everything you have done for me.